Hope in Our Crazy World - Pt 5

Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. (1 Peter 4:13-17 ESV).

The last principle for regaining your hope is to remember that our God is One who can redeem the very worst of men and their actions. We serve a God who turns things around. He is the God of the resurrection. And His resurrection power lives and dwells inside of us. Our hope knows no bounds, because it rests in a boundless God! Half of our New Testament is written by Paul who did worse things than almost anyone in our world today. And God redeemed Him. This is the God we serve! Throughout human history, God has worked on behalf of His people whose hearts were His. He has done mighty wonders. He has turned nations around. He has moved in power as His gospel was proclaimed. He has built His Church, and the gates of hell have not, nor will ever, prevail against it. That truth gives us a different way forward. What if we were the people to express our hope and peace in God right now, in the midst of one of the seemingly most confusing and frustrating times in American history? What if we showed honor for all politicians and all people - even those on the other side of the aisle? What if we stopped adding to the noise of hate, disrespect and warring words? What if we walked in the peace of God? It might not change our circumstance, but it would change us. It would bring us a calm and stillness in a time where it seems we should be doing anything but this. It would allow the truth of God to work grace in our hearts. It would allow God's peace in us to brightly reflect the glory of God in a dark world. So, these things, as we have looked at them over the past few days, bring us to hope. I am constantly amazed how simple life becomes when I trust in the truth God has revealed to me. I find that simplicity comforting; and, that comfort them becomes a settled disposition for hope. I hope you have been encouraged. I hope you have been filled with the unshakeable truth of God’s amazing grace!

Hope in Our Crazy World - Pt 4

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:26-27 ESV).

Jesus says in the midst of any troubling circumstance: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (v. 27). Judah Smith writes, "How much of the pain and suffering in the world is caused by humans willfully pursuing their own desires? Peace—that essential, elusive, universal need of mankind—is restored to us in Jesus. God’s peace is first and foremost peace with him. It is an internal, spiritual wellness that is the foundation for peace in every other area." May I also say, God calls us to walk in His peace, not add our voices to the world's chaos. Now this doesn't mean we shouldn't speak truth to culture. There are times for this, but our tone, motivations and heart should be completely opposite of this world. Listen to a few challenges from God's Word about how people of peace should live and look (cf. Ephesians 5:12). We don't need to hear and pass on everything that others do wrong. We need to take a step back, and live like we are from a different Kingdom. James said, "With our tongue we bless God, and then curse men who are made in the likeness of God. Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. This should not be!" (James 3:9-10). Christians cannot be people who curse the darkness, but rather those who light a candle. We don't fight darkness with darkness. This allows us to be fundamentally different in our opinions and responses than the culture around us. By doing this we can build hope into the fabric of our lives. It shows the glory of God when Christians watch culture rage, and yet don't feel the need to speak to all of it. Instead, we weep and pray, simply trusting the One who is sovereign to work on our behalf and glorify His Name in the midst of it all. And the darkness of our time causes our light to shine even brighter. Instead of hate, we promote love. Instead of cutting words, we show honor to all. Instead of lifting up wickedness, we live with utmost purity. We live, and breathe and act as those from a different Kingdom. This does not mean retreating to “live under a rock.” It means we acknowledge that we weren’t chosen to live in toxic emotions but in the peace of God. So, the next time you read something on social media stop and pray before you hit the comment button and get drawn into the anger and hatred of unprofitable banter. This allows God's peace to fill our weary souls and produce hope.

Hope in Our Crazy World - Pt 3

So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 6:17-20 ESV).

Our second principle that brings us hope in the trials of this world is that we already know how the story ends. We already know how our story ends. We have an inheritance because of what Christ has done for us. We are headed for glory. Eric Geiger wrote: "God has designed the end and the in between. The end is people from every tribe, tongue, and nation gathered around the throne worshipping Him because they were purchased with the blood of Christ (cf. Revelation 5:9-10). Regardless of what happens this week, what unfolds in the news, the ending has already been made clear: God is redeeming for Himself a people from all peoples." You may be tempted to agree with that truth without believing it is your truth. Look again at our reading. The writer describes “who” these people with a firm and secure anchor are: …we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. The very fact that you have a concern whether you will make it or not indicates you are indeed one of those who have “fled for refuge.” Remember the key is not in how firmly you have a grasp on God; the key is in how firmer He has a grasp on us. In fact, that’s the image of the “anchor” in this reading. It was a sturdy post deeply buried in the shore where sailors would tie their ships to it in order that others on the shore would be able to pull them into a safe anchorage. Jesus is that “crew” on the shore. He has already gone this way and overcome death and sin forever that we might have assurance of a safe arrival in our eternal home. I know there are those times when you simply cannot feel the steady pull to home; however, make no mistake in that “he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). Our emotions are so often unreliable. The mere fact that pain, in any form, dulls the trustworthiness of our emotions forces me to rely more on what I know through Scripture and the lives of those who have gone before me. Then I am able to possess hope, even in our crazy world!

Hope in Our Crazy World - Pt 2

The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart. (Proverbs 21:1-2 ESV).

For the Christian, there should be an overwhelming and pervasive sense of well being and peace, no matter what goes on in our world. Apart from any other people we should be able to have hope. There are many reasons for that; however, I have chosen four to explore over the next few days that I believe will strengthen you in whatever circumstance you may find yourself at the moment. The first is God is sovereign. Over the chaos of our world, God will always reign Sovereign. Our reading today declares this truth clearly: The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will (v. 1). As powerful as that “stream” may appear, it still must flow in the path God has chosen for it. God is writing the story, even the story of our world's leaders (cf. Daniel 2:21; Romans 13:1). God Sovereignty won't always make sense to us, but the truth of God's sovereignty should serve to remind us the world will never spin out of God's control. God is not surprised by the circumstances of our life not because he knows the wickedness of our world; nor because of the depth of sin and depravity of humanity. Those things are certainly true and he is aware of them. He is not surprised by them because of his omniscience, though he does know everything past, present, and to come. He is not surprised because he directs all of it while working it together for our good (cf. Romans 8:28). He is in control. He’s got this, whatever your “this” might be. When life goes sideways, it’s important to remind ourselves that God is good and in control, even when His presence doesn’t feel close at every moment. In fact, there is normalcy to this feeling within the Christian experience. Job felt that no matter what direction he looked, God seemed absent (Job 23:8-9). Naomi changed her name to Bitter in a despairing response to the death of her family and livelihood that were permitted by the “Almighty” (cf. Ruth 1:20-21). Yet in every story we can always find divine hope running alongside the despair. God’s sovereignty fuels hope because we can rest in the knowledge that He is not overwhelmed by brokenness, but has absolute authority over it (cf. Colossians 1:17). Because He is a personal God who is good, we can trust His promise to work all things together for our individual good and His ultimate glory.

Hope in Our Crazy World - Pt 1

Love the Lord, all you his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride. Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord! (Psalm 31:23-24 ESV).

First, I need to begin this series of thoughts with a disclaimer. They are apolitical, intended to be an encouragement to those who find their circumstance untenable, however broad they may be. You may be facing a very specific crisis with no apparent bearing on anyone but yourself; or, you may be wrestling with much broader challenges. Whatever your situation, you may be getting to a particular position when hope seems impossible to possess. These are intended for you. Also, I do not post these as an invitation to debate my position. I am fully aware that there are at least as many, perhaps more, who would disagree. Again, the intent is to forge a way forward to regain hope, not change anyone’s political or theological position in this public setting. The series is actually prompted from a brief question Mary asked me earlier. Almost in casual conversation, she asked, “What do you think about the new law in New York?” My first reaction was “I think it’s ludicrous.” To be fair and accurate, the law is not as broad as it has been reported through some media. It does not give access to late term abortions in every circumstance; however, as the Associated Press has reported in a quote from Governor Cuomo: “The new law safeguards rights laid out in Roe v. Wade and other court rulings, including a provision permitting late-term abortions when a woman's health is endangered.” Various media outlets have taken this moment to champion their positions and in so doing subtly misled their audience to believe it is much more than it is. It’s still much more than I would agree with, politically and theologically. My point is that it leaves us without trust in those who should be simply reporting facts. The same can be said in the Government shutdown. It has degenerated into a “he said/she said” battle with more spin that truth reported, while thousands of innocent people are adversely affected. The erosion of truth in favor of any political position or agenda is dangerous. It attacks our hope. As Christians we must remember that our ultimate hope is not in this present life. It is not in what we can see now, but in the world unseen, and our final destination of Heaven. If we choose to “hope in the Lord” as this scripture says, He will give us the strength to get through it, no matter our situation. Over the next few days I’m going to look at some specific ways to regain your hope and power. Like the tiny seedling pushing its way up through the dead stump in our picture today, I hope these words will give you that strength and perseverance to press upward in this crazy world!

Ordinary Joy - Pt 3

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. (1 Peter 5:6-10 ESV).

I have found that recognizing the position we occupy often brings me to a deep sense of humility. Through the passage of time I have come to understand that no matter how I compare to others, or how often others compare me to them, my worth is not based in that kind of comparison. And, especially with the passage of time, I don’t measure up to the same stature I might have once been able to claim. There have been more than enough accolades and awards for various things I have accomplished. However, it is of interest to me that as I sit at my desk and write this devotional in my study, none of those are displayed. They are packaged and stored in the attic. I do have some reminders of places I’ve been and things I’ve seen. But, the real sense of joy is not where I’ve been or what I’ve done; the real sense of joy is in where I’m going and what I will do when I get to that place! Our picture today seems somewhat sad, two old derelicts washed ashore, perhaps long forgotten. They may have served their purpose some time ago, though now they are left alone, abandoned in favor of something else. Yet, to my eye there is something much more transcendent about them than that. To me they serve as a potent reminder of what I have found to be my hope. The artist who captured this through the lens of his mind has memorialized them in a way that will bring joy to others for as long as the photo exists. The photographer has that kind of power. He created something of great value out of what appeared to be worthless. God does that with us. God calls us to be content as creatures. Pride makes us want to be gods, but humility accepts the truth that we can’t master life. We are flesh and blood creatures; we are made of dust. We don’t master life, and we don’t know what the days ahead will bring. But we put our trust in God, and eat and drink every day with joy. We find joy in the ordinary things of life. If our days are good, if we are spared suffering, that is a gift of God. Ordinary days have their own glory. This is the essence of humility and the foundation of joy. When we receive life as God’s gift, we see the glory in the ordinary. He cares for us and will bring us to our eternal home!

Ordinary Joy - Pt 2

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat. (Psalm 19:1-6 ESV).

There some things in life that are so consistent that they beg to be taken for granted. A sunrise or sunset is one of those things. The skies of North Texas are often ablaze with the brilliant handiwork of God as the sun rises or sets. Perhaps it’s like that everywhere and I simply have more time to notice it here at home. What I know with certainty is that “beauty,” wherever we find it, would be one of those ordinary things. Life is a blend of beauty and mystery. We see the beauty of life in the waves of the ocean crashing ashore, in the rain cascading down in a thunderstorm, and in seeing shafts of the sun streaming through the trees while hiking in woods. We can see it everywhere, all the time. Perhaps we simply have grown too “ground focused.” By “ground focused” I mean we spend most of the time walking our journey looking at our feet. I suppose that is a natural position when we have been beaten down with the constant hardship of life. Our concentration moves from tomorrow to now easily in those times. We have come to believe that it is our personal strength that will allow us to take that “one more step.” It is not. If it were, we would be a people without hope. You see, while we see the beauty of the created world, we are in a position of yearning for eternity. We long for something that transcends time. We sense there is something more than just this life. It is innately present in our lives. I stayed up to see the Lunar eclipse and the resulting blood moon last Monday. It was cold with a blustery wind, which meant I was going to be going in and out of the warmth of my home. However, I was not disappointed with the clarity of the event. We live in the country with very little ambient light from other buildings or street lights which made it all the more easy to observe the celestial event. I remember thinking how this is possible and quickly dismissed the thought of doing the research. I’m sure that a quick search of the internet would have provided more information than I could have digested; however, I would have reached the same ultimate conclusion that the “how” is rooted in the will and power of God. Here’s the point… since God did that, is there really anything so hard for him to do elsewhere in my life? That thought gave me joy; and, that came from simply seeing the beauty surrounding me! It is a part of ordinary joy!

Ordinary Joy - Pt 1

What gain has the worker from his toil? I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also hat everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man. (Ecclesiastes 3:9-113 ESV).

It’s Wednesday. Many people would call this day “hump day.” That brings with it the knowledge that we have arrived at mid-week with just two more days to follow that will get us to the weekend. For many people the weekend is the goal. Somehow, if we can just make it to Saturday and Sunday we will have freedom and joy. We are free from the responsibilities of work and it’s an opportunity for rest and leisure. I find that the weekend is not nearly as exciting for me in my state of semi-retirement. Of course there are some things that are very desirable about it. There is more activity around the house since the grandchildren are not in school or busy with homework and activities; Sunday is a day to worship and see people not ordinarily present in my Monday through Friday schedule. These are always pleasant and “joyful.” However, the real question is how do I find joy in every day? After all, those days are typically pretty ordinary. That’s what we will begin to look at in the next few days. Thankfully we are not left to our own speculation. God has spoken to us through the Scripture. Ecclesiastes is that narrative. It teaches us that life can be empty, futile, and absurd. However, there is great insight and hope within its pages. The conclusion of the book functions as the lens, the perspective, by which the whole of the book should be read. When we understand that this world isn’t paradise on earth, we are reminded that nothing is more important than a right relationship with God. Ecclesiastes reminds us of our limitations and finiteness. This is the path to joy in the ordinary things of life. Our reading declares, God “has made everything beautiful in its time” (v. 11). Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. As followers of Christ, our joy doesn’t come from our circumstances. It comes from knowing the Lord and His character, from abiding in Christ and the Word of God. I find that enormously satisfying. I’ve chosen some very ordinary things to use as a focal point in the discovery of how to accomplish this settled position regardless of your circumstance. Today, would you commit yourself to guard yourself against letting outward circumstances determine your inward joy? We will find joy in the ordinary things!

A Time for Every Season - Pt 6

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. (Philippians 2:12-16 ESV).

We come to perhaps the most difficult of lessons today. I am not good at patiently waiting. The key is not in dealing with my lack of patience, but the way I respond to those occasions when patience is tested. We should not fall to the temptations of complaining (“grumbling”) about delays and inefficiencies in the hospital. Patience is a practice in trust. Let me illustrate a bit. The last day I had received all the results, met with all the doctors on the team, been given the new instructions and was cleared to be discharged. Unfortunately that process was a bit slower than I anticipated. It took four and a half hours to finally sing the discharge documents and leave the hospital. It was easy to blame this doctor or that nurse; perhaps it was some hidden administrative clerk somewhere in the vast cluster of buildings who simply hadn’t done my papers yet; or, could it have been someone else who simply hadn’t gotten “the memo.” I wanted to go home; and, that was the problem. Listen to that phrase again… “I wanted.” So often I fall to the temptation to want without direction or purpose. That is not trust. I wanted to be out of that gown, disconnected from all the wires, relieved of the IV port still dangling from my arm though not in use at that time. I wanted to be in the comfort and security of my home, sitting in my chair, and experiencing the freedom of my familiar surroundings at home. And, of course, I had stuff that needed to be done. All of these complaints assume that somehow my “needs” were both legitimate and within the plan and purpose of God. Maybe they were; however, they were not a basis for my grumbling about the perceived lack of attention I was receiving. This principle applies to so many experiences in life. It is especially applicable when we are in some unfamiliar or threatening circumstance. The Apostle Paul says, “Do all things without grumbling” (v. 14). And, he said that the effect of not murmuring would be that we shine as lights in the midst of a crooked world (v. 15). If ever a world needed light, ours certainly does. It really is a time for that today.

A Time for Every Season - Pt 5

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. (Ephesians 4:25 ESV).

In this fourth little lesson I learned the importance of reaching out to a friend or family member to help me. Sounds simple doesn’t it? I have been a caregiver for over fifty years to countless hundreds of people who have been in scores of crises. I’m not accustomed to asking for help with anything. That’s not the way of God. I was reminded of this truth in numerous ways in my recent stay at the hospital. I needed friends, family, and caregivers of all sorts. I was not as good at accomplishing this as I should have been, but the truth has stuck. Often the suddenness of a hospitalization leaves the patient disoriented and unable to think clearly about all the aspects of what’s going on. This was certainly true for me. Things began to expand quickly; multiple decisions needed to be made quickly. Questions needed to be asked, and my mind was not at full strength. I needed an advocate. My wife was there and full of good questions and answers for the doctors. My oldest son, who lives nearby was there to help technically as well. His experience and knowledge of me and medications in general was invaluable. No one can think of all the things we might need to know in order to understand what has happened, and to live wisely in the days to come. We need help to ask all the right questions. Because of the necessity of multiple layers of care and the need for clear information I found myself trying to keep up with these things. Seeing multiple doctors during the stay, it was imperative that I pay attention to what was being said and done. When one physician came in and decided that my problem was one of the equilibrium of my inner ear and wanted to prescribe another new medication for that, I needed to decline politely and as for patience to allow all the results from the tests to be completed. As it turned out, the problem was chemical not physical. New medications given to me the week before had produced the adverse results, not another blockage. I am thankful for the help of family to get the decisions made quickly and correctly. Additionally we need the spiritual support of prayer from others. One good friend texted me with a gentle admonition to let her and some of our other circle of friends know when crisis erupts in our lives “so they could pray.” That was a very wise reminder. We really should not be afraid to ask for help, and to give our friends permission to ask everything that comes to mind. “We are members one of another” (V. 25).

A Time for Every Season - Pt 4

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 ESV).

At the risk of sounding petty and childish, I come to the third lesson of my stay in the hospital. It involves the ubiquitous hospital gown. I suppose I should be grateful that it was not paper; however, with wires attached to seven different points on my chest for heart monitoring, IV’s, heart rate and oxygen monitors wired to other monitors, I can say with absolute certainty that I don’t like hospital gowns in any material or pattern. You can print the material with happiest of cartoon characters or prettiest of flowers, they are not something I would choose to ever wear, especially in front of strangers. I found the picture accompanying today’s devotional on a web site dealing with the “new” design elements in gowns. Four happy young adults (models at the peak of the health) stand in poses designed to put the best look of the gown forward. Well, still I come to the conclusion that I’d much rather wear my jeans and Aggie sweatshirt! So, I must come to the conclusion that it is best to simply accept the humiliation of wearing the same unflattering gown everyone else wears. This is good for all of us. Most of the time we have control over our outward persona. We can dress in a way that presents us as more dignified (or self-sufficient) than we are. Picture the difference between the Don Emmitte with his jeans, maroon something (with A&M logos of course) preaching or teaching, and the Don Emmitte with his blue and white, split-down-the-back hospital robe hobbling to the bathroom in his nonslip, yellow footies, dragging the IV pole and countless wires with him. This is a great reality check. We are all weak, vulnerable, fairly plain, physical specimens, who are getting less attractive all the time. Paul writes, “But thanks be to God, though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day” (v. 16). The great truth here is that the apostle begins this declaration that our “outward self is wasting away,” or simply that we are getting older and weaker in every way, with “Thanks be to God!” I need to be reminded that a part of the glorious redemption of God is in my physical transformation as well as my spiritual one. I may not be in control of the way I “look” now, but a day is coming when that will all be changed! Thanks be to God!

A Time for Every Season - Pt 3

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23:1-6 ESV).

Today we’ll look at a second thought resulting from my recent stay in the hospital. I came to the realization, again, that physical pain makes focusing on God’s promises more difficult and demands greater effort and concentration. Having lived with chronic pain for over twenty-five years I know it’s not just the fear of illness and reality of aging that disorient our souls; it’s the pain. I don’t want you to be blindsided by this. The very thing we need God for can blur our vision of God. As in our illustration today, life with pain can be like a lonely walk through a dark, foreboding forest. It feels that way sometimes. It is easy to imagine we are alone in our pain. I have found it instructional to realize there are many others, some better and some worse than I who are suffering. I have also found that truth to be somewhat unhelpful. When I hurt, when I fear, I am fully aware of others and their plight; however, I am not comforted by the suffering of others. In fact, it may, at times, cause me to doubt the very source who will bring comfort. That brings me to this point. It is so important that you have in your heart some very simple, short biblical truths about God that you can declare to yourself the truth. Long complex reasoning about God’s sovereignty and goodness won’t work in this situation, because the pain is too disorienting. It doesn’t allow the mind to work at full capacity. What is needed is: “The Lord is my Shepherd.” Period. “Christ gave himself for me.” Period. “I will never leave you.” Period. “Nothing is too hard for the Lord.” Period. “Everything works for good.” Period. These are like white stones with your name on them. And you hold them in your hand as you groan and wait. I have also found the simpler the truth, the better. I have often told people that the right question to ask in the midst of crisis is “who?” It is not “why?” There are reasons for my health issue to be sure; however, knowing them does not bring comfort. Knowing the God of all comfort brings peace and ease of mind and heart. God to those gems in Scripture like our psalm toady!

A Time for Every Season - Pt 2

Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you. (Psalm 25:20-21 ESV).

Today we’ll look at the first “lesson” from my time in the hospital. Having come in to the hospital through the ER later to be transferred to a room, I was struck with the activity that surrounded me. I suppose a part of the seeming chaos was the need to do a lot of stuff in a short amount of time. I’m not really sure how many doctors, interns, nurses, or diagnosticians I saw. In fact, I’m not sure how many rooms, or areas I was taken to for testing. I do know that I got to know several “transport” technicians very well. I did enjoy the chats we had as they rolled my bed around from one place to another! Reflecting on that part of the experience, I remember thinking how easily it is to be numbed spiritually by the ceaseless barrage of sounds, noises, television, and chatter that surrounds you in the hospital. I was amazed at the ceaselessness of sound. Maybe it’s different for others. But for me, there was almost no let up. Not even in the middle of the night. In my case there was the monitoring of vital signs every two hours, the telemetry unit clicking and beeping, the phlebotomist coming for more blood samples every four hours, and countless other noises. I really just wanted some quiet. One of the tests was a nuclear stress test. I’ve had that particular test once before. It takes a while to complete while transferring from one stage to another. At one point I was in a very small holding area, you know the ones simply divided by curtains from others. Once they wheeled in the machine that would measure the response to the drugs they were to administer to get a look at my heart in various states of rhythm and accelerated pace, there were six people in the space. All were talking to one another or me, there were sounds emanating from the other “rooms,” people walking the hallway discussing everything from what needed to be done next with each station to the purchase of Girl Scout cookies! I wanted to just say, “Please, be quiet!” I know most of the noises were necessary. However, it made me long for quiet. After the test I realized it was not my ears that needed quiet, but my spirit. In the very moment when I needed to be still and know that God is God, my heart was off balance with distraction. This was a surprise to me. It took me off guard. I prayed my “list.” I worked at concentrating and turned my attention to our reading today to regain my spiritual stability. Like David, I simply prayed, “Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!” (v. 20). I hope you do not need to know this principle for any crisis, but should you find yourself in such a situation, God answers this prayer swiftly and powerfully!

A Time for Every Season - Pt 1

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 ESV).

First, I must apologize for not posting in a few days. I did receive your texts and emails wondering about the lapse. I hope I answered most of them in a timely way, though I’m sure that was not the case. Monday morning, I was directed by my doctor to go the ER because of some issues regarding my heart. Honestly, I really felt that it couldn’t be anything related to my heart since we were so close to Christmas past that I knew it “grew two sizes” (cf. “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”… and please give a polite chuckle). Anyway, that visit resulted in spending the next three days in the hospital while they tested. I won’t spend the space here with details, but you can tell by this devotional, I’m still alive. In fact, I feel good. I received good care, a clear diagnosis, some new medication, and permission to go on with my life as near normal as ever. While I was being herded from one area to another I determined to use the time for as much reflection as possible. Since coming home and not wanting to waste this experience, I’ve been thinking about lessons learned and benefits received. My hope is that as I take you through this little journey of reflection that it may be an encouragement to you, especially if you find yourself in a similar situation. In general, let me say that all of the things we’ll look at are things I needed God’s help with. I was surprised how difficult it was for me to focus on anything, and therefore, how vulnerable I felt spiritually. I’m used to fixing my mind on God’s truth, especially his promises, and fighting off the temptations of fear and anger. That was especially true when good news was not coming very quickly and my older grandchildren visited me. That’s really the first time they have seen Grandpa in a hospital bed and looking vulnerable and frail. I know its pride, but I wanted to maintain the illusion of strength and vigor longer with them. When Logan asked matter-of-factly, “Grandpa, what’s wrong with you?” I was jolted with the reality that they knew I wasn’t as good as I once might have been. That thought brought me to our reading today. It was such a “time.” Focus was difficult, trust was harder than usual; however, as is always the case, God is enough and He’s got this! That’s the beginning of every lesson.

Getting Older to the Glory of God - Pt 3

But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter. (2 Thessalonians 2:13-15 ESV). While there are different ways of dying, there are also different ways of living just before we die. But for the Christian all of them, the final living, and the dying, are supposed to show the glory of God. All of them are supposed to show that Christ, not this world, is our supreme Treasure. This is the path to becoming a “classic.” Growing old to the glory of God means using whatever strength, health, or resources we have left to treasure Christ and in that joy to serve people. Serving people, and not ourselves, as the overflow of treasuring Christ makes Christ look great. Yesterday I wrote that there were two extremes that are deadly in the accomplishment of this pursuit.

The first is to come to believe that perseverance is unnecessary. It’s a mistake to think that perseverance in faith and love is not necessary. Paul says, “The one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life” (Galatians 6:8-9). So notice that these two are corruption on the one hand and eternal life on the other hand. Then he says in the next verse, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap [that is, reap eternal life], if we do not give up.” So clearly persevering in the faith sowing to the Spirit and bearing his fruit of love is necessary. “God chose you,” Paul says in our reading “…to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.” “Saved through sanctification” means that sanctification is the path on which saved sinners go to heaven. And it’s the only path that leads to heaven. The second misguided way of overcoming the fear of not persevering is just as dangerous. It is the way that says: “Yes, perseverance in faith and love is necessary and that means I must wait till the last day for God to be 100% for me, and I must depend on my efforts to secure God’s full favor. God may get me started in the Christian life by faith in him alone, but perseverance happens another way. God makes his ongoing favor depend on my efforts.” What the Bible teaches is that God becomes 100% irrevocably for us at the moment of justification, that is, the moment when we see Christ as a beautiful Savior and receive him as our substitute punishment and our substitute perfection. The moment we see Jesus and receive him, his death counts as our death and his condemnation as our condemnation and his righteousness as our righteousness, and God becomes 100% irrevocably for us forever in that instant. Being intentional in striking the balance of complete dependence on God and total commitment to doing his will, reflecting his glory, is the way to grow old showing the glory of God! Become that kind of “classic.”

Getting Older to the Glory of God - Pt 2

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:6-8 ESV).

It has been six months since having some stents put in, so a follow-up appointment with the cardiologist was scheduled this week. I don’t know if I need to get an older doctor or just go with the flow. My doctor is one of the best in the area; however, being young he is still in good shape. Maybe he will be forever. That I don’t know. I do know that the conversation led to the prescription of a strict diet so that I can lose some of the weight I have gained over the last few years. Believe me when I say it is more than just giving up Blue Bell! I wish that I had the Garfield quote in our meme today when he told me I was too fat. However, with all of that said, I am taken to a second principle in our short examination of getting old to the glory of God. I find it very common as we age that we are tempted to fear that we will not persevere in treasuring Christ and loving people. We won’t be able to say with Paul in our reading today that “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Our eternal reward of final righteousness will come to us as we have sought to love his appearing and treasured him above all other things. This treasuring of Christ must be included in our consciousness. That’s simply a part of our faith; it includes treasuring Christ and his appearing. You don’t have faith if you don’t want Jesus. So, one great obstacle to getting old to the glory of God is the fear that we can’t maintain this treasuring of Christ. We fear we’re not going to make it. And the main reason that this fear of not persevering in faith and love is an obstacle to getting old to the glory of God is that the two most common ways of overcoming this fear are deadly. There are two opposite ways to ruin your life in trying to overcome this fear. One is to assume that perseverance in faith and love is not necessary for final salvation. And the other is to assume that perseverance is absolutely necessary, and then depend on our efforts in some measure to fulfill that necessity and to secure God’s favor. Tomorrow I’ll look at each of these ends of the spectrum. However, today recognize that both these are devastatingly misguided and deadly. Make an intentional effort to both rely completely on the grace and strength of God as you reflect His presence in your life, whatever your chronological age!

Getting Older to the Glory of God - Pt 1

O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come. Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens. (Psalm 71:17-19 ESV).

Sam Elliott is one of my favorite Western Actors. At least a part of that is the way he looks. There are only two men I know who can wear his style of mustache and really pull it off. Elliott is one and my good friend Jamie McClain is the other. Elliott is five years older than I and Jamie is ten years younger. Both remind me of my “age.” I do like the meme I found recently. I think it’s a great point of view to simply adopt a philosophy of not aging, but “outliving the warranty.” And, it seems to be true. It has been a while since I really have been as good as I once was, though I still cling to the hope that I’m as good once as I ever was! Those thoughts brought me to the next few devotionals dealing with getting old in such a way as to bring God glory; getting old to the glory of God means getting old in a way that makes God look glorious. It means living and dying in a way that shows God to be the all-satisfying Treasure that he is. So it would include, for example, not living in ways that make this world look like our treasure. That, in turn, means that most of the suggestions that this world offers us for our retirement years are not good ones. They call us to live in a way that would make this world look like our treasure. And when that happens, God is diminished. Maybe this thought is merely a result of a very long day yesterday. I started my counseling schedule at 9 am and did not finish until 9pm with one hour of break in that period of time. With a forty-five minute drive home, I was tired when I rolled into the drive. I remind myself that I really want to retire. In fact, I have been resolute in working to get to the place where I can quit. As I reflect on that mindset today I must come to the conclusion that quitting is completer counter to the Scripture. Our reading today gives us a wonderful glimpse into the process of aging, “even to old age and gray hairs.” I think we must come to the conclusion that getting old to the glory of God means resolutely resisting the typical American dream of retirement. It means being so satisfied with all that God promises to be for us in Christ that we are set free from the cravings that create so much emptiness and uselessness in retirement. Instead, knowing that we have an infinitely satisfying and everlasting inheritance in God just over the horizon of life ought to make us even more zealous to spend ourselves in the sacrifices of love, not the accumulation of comforts. We look deeper in the coming days. Today, thank God that you are still able to bring him glory whatever your age!

A Word for the New Year - Pt 5

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47 ESV).

Though there are many “words” that we may chose, today I will look at one more from Luke’s description of the early church to install this final devotional in our present series. The word is “joy.” This is that contagious joy that we so often associate with the relationships we cherish most. Everyone is looking for joy. Marketing companies know this and thus every commercial promises the same result: joy. Want some joy? Eat at this restaurant, drive this car, wear this article of clothing. Every commercial portrays the image of a joy-filled person. Everyone wants it. Everyone promises it. But can anyone deliver it? It might surprise you to know that joy is a big topic in the Bible. Simply put: God wants his children to be joy-filled. Just like a father wants his baby to laugh with glee, God longs for us to experience a deep-seated, deeply rooted joy. The joy offered by God joy is different than the one promised from the common wisdom of marketing. God is not interested in putting a temporary smile on our face. He wants to deposit a resilient hope in our heart. He has no interest in giving us a shallow happiness that melts in the heat of adversity. But he does offer us a joy: a deep-seated, heart-felt, honest-to-goodness, ballistic strong sense of joy that can weather the most difficult of storms. Whatever word you choose to make your focus, be intentional. Spend time in the Scripture. Anchor every dream and plan in actual, memorizable words from God. Use these words to recall those moments of exceptional joy in your life previously. There is only good in your future. Ultimately God has an eternal good being prepared for us even now; however, all things will work together for our good in the present tense. It is God’s promise. Trust in that promise and let the joy flood into your life.

A Word for the New Year - Pt 4

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47 ESV).

Today we will look at another possibility for a “Word for the New Year.” It is a part of Luke’s description of the early church in our reading today. He says, And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. (vv. 43-44). They were sacrificial in their generosity. The meme today is a quote from Winston Churchill. It is a unique and powerful way to express the heart of generosity: “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” The Christians in that first church were captured by a vibrant, dynamic, and personal vision of God, but that did not keep them from focusing on one another. They did not have to choose between being a church going hard after the God seated in heaven and a church dedicated to the needs around them here on earth. Christianity should never isolate believers to focus exclusively on their own relationship with Jesus, but make each believer another vital vein in the body of Christ, each of them carrying what others need from God to the one in need. God promises to meet our every need (cf. Matthew 6:25-33), and many times he meets our needs through another believer. He gifts each of us, not for self-expression or self-fulfillment, but to fill what is lacking in someone else by meeting genuine needs. God has given each of us grace that was not meant to end with us, but to extend to someone else (cf. 1 Peter 4:10). But without selfless and sacrificial compassion, grace ends up in storage, not in action. The first Christians felt so secure in God’s promises that they let go of all they had to help one another. To the watching world, it was unexplainably selfless and foolishly generous. Joy faced with need always looks like compassion and sacrifice. In short, it looks like the cross (cf. Hebrews 12:2;1 John 4:9-11). Perhaps this is a word for your consideration. It certainly embodies the foundation of the early church!

A Word for the New Year - Pt 3

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47 ESV).

I hope you are both enjoying and being challenged in these devotionals to choose a specific word for your New Year. Today I want us to look at another word that Luke uses to describe the early Jerusalem church. He says, “And awe came upon every soul” (v. 43). The best description of this “awe” is “affection.” It was heartfelt affection for the Lord, the community of faith, and those that were a part of their community. It was no bored formality which is so often present in today’s church. What happened as they devoted themselves to the Bible and to one another was a sense of awe. Their evangelism was not an academic lecture or marketing pitch, trying desperately to persuade a nonbeliever to surrender and agree with them. Something different was happening in this tiny and fragile church: awe. Awe overwhelms the mind to get to the heart. It must take the mind first. No feeling or emotion leads to real life or joy if it is not based on the truth about you and about God (cf. Romans 10:2). Christianity, though, is not simply about getting the truth right, but about having the truth capture our hearts. If we are not fascinated with this Christ, we can hardly claim to know him. Too many of us in too many of our churches settle for rehearsing the same truths over and over again in singing and preaching and discussing without expecting to be moved by God again. But awe is not only the experience of conversion, but of day-in, day-out faith in community. As we watch God move over and over for one another and in one another our hearts awaken in wonder again. We could use a lot less “sparkle” in some of our churches. I rather doubt that the apostles held a weekly staff meeting to make sure the plan for the weekly service was designed in such a way as to both attract and retain more people. Some modern churches run their worship like a newscast with each “spot” timed to the second. By the way, quiet in worship is not always a bad thing. In your personal life perhaps your word for the year should be “affection”; a genuine awe in view of the presence and purpose of God in your life.

A Word for the New Year - Pt 2

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47 ESV).

We return to Luke’s description of the early church again today as our reading. I hope you are making some progress on narrowing your list of possible words for that one word that you believe is necessary to act as a focal point for your year. I have done a lot of shooting through the years. Some it was while hunting, through most of the time it was either plinking at targets or seriously tuning up my skills with one of my many weapons. One absolute truth is that you will not hit the bullseye without focus and intention. You simply hit what you aim at! Yesterday, I wrote that my word this year was “confidence.” Today, I would like to introduce you to another possibly: “Relentless Devotion, Not Casual Indifference.” Notice the reading again today. Luke writes, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (v. 42). There it is, Devoted. I drive 45 miles to church. I have often been asked why I go that far each time. The thought that there is not another good church between here and there seems incredulous. And, it is. There are many very good churches that I pass by in favor of Gospel City of Arlington. So, it begs the question, “Why?” There are several reasons. My good friend, Mark Mangrem is the pastor. We have a long history together. That certainly provides some motivation. However, the principle motivation is found in the fact that it is a church which is marked by a passionate devotion to the gospel and God’s unrelenting grace. Like the early church of Acts, they can be described as “devoted.” It gives us a key to understanding how we might desire to be individually devoted. It begins with a devotion to the Scriptures and to our fellowship (v. 42). It shouldn’t be a devotion like a New Year’s resolution, but like we are devoted to eating food and drinking water each day. They were daily devoted to God’s word and to each other like their lives depended on it, because they did depend on it. Perhaps that’s the word you need for your focus this year.

A Word for the New Year - Pt 1

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47 ESV).

I love the description of the early church that Luke gives us in this short reading today. “They devoted themselves” is the beginning of the description. The result of the things they focused on was that “an awe came upon every soul.” I think I would like to see such a wonder come on every person in my faith community. I want that for each of you who read Morning Devotionals. That certainly is my regular prayer. If devotion is the key, the question surely is how do we become devoted? Let me make a suggestion that will take us into the next few days as I encourage you to become very intentional. Instead of a rigid New Year’s Resolution, use a Word of the Year for your constant, yet gentle, reminder to focus on creating positive change. Use it to help guide your decisions and continue moving towards what you want. After all, the first step to manifesting anything you desire is awareness and intention. A Word of the Year will set you in the right direction by bringing more awareness to your intentions, a theme, for how you want your year to flow. It seems daunting to choose one word to center your hopes and dreams on for an entire year; however, as I believe you will see, it is much easier than at first glance. The first step is to begin to narrow your potentials. Make a list of nouns, verbs, or even short phrases that are expansive. It might look something like: “open, aligned, joy, grateful and confident.” It might be a few of the words in our illustration today. Whatever you first list might be and begin to cast your vision forward into the year ahead. Because of a few things that are swirling through my experience right now, I have chosen “confident” for my word this year. It really came to me as an antithesis of what I am feeling on some days. Because of those circumstances, instead of fear, I’m choosing confidence. It centers my thoughts on who God is in my life; it reminds me that I must not allow outward circumstances to determine my inward joy; it forces me to be intentional with my faith. In the coming days I will suggest some of the possible phrases and words you might consider. It would be incredible if you would simply take a moment and note your word if you already have one in the comments. What is your Word for the New Year?

Possessing the Land - Pt 4

So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho. (Joshua 3:14-16 ESV).

Getting ready to cross over, Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, because the LORD will do wonders among you tomorrow" (v. 7). The Hebrew word for consecrate means "to prepare, to dedicate, to be hallowed, to be holy, to be separate or set apart." God was telling His people that if they were going to cross the uncrossable and follow the will of the Lord, they must be set apart to Him. They must be holy. That involved basically two things. They were asked to repent of their sin. One of the primary reasons Israel found their way blocked, and one of the reasons we find ours often blocked, is sin. Our refusal to repent keeps us from possessing this land. Jesus has paid the price for our eternal life. It is the work of sanctification that the Holy Spirit does for this life. On the eve of one of the greatest days in their history, Israel was commanded to be certain they were right with God, to examine their lives, confess and forsake sins, and devote themselves wholly to the Lord. To cross the uncrossable we must fix our gaze on Jesus, sensing His movements and follow; and, set ourselves apart from sin unto Him, being on constant alert spiritually for the hand of the Lord around us. Then we may focus on the Lord. While this consecration is vital, we must remember that the work is already accomplished in the work of Jesus. The outcome is never in doubt. The time is the only question. Our eyes and our hearts can be right on, but if we don't move our feet to meet the challenges, we will never progress in God's work. We must commit ourselves, our time, our energy, our resources, our lives to what God is doing, or it won't happen. But let me quickly add something here. I want you to notice an element in their trust that is present in all true faith. After they stepped out, they stood still (v.8). They were waiting on the power of God. In all their activity, they maintained dependence. Their standing still testified to the fact that everything came from God. They were acknowledging that it wasn't their work that changed anything, it was God and God alone. They stepped out, and they stood still. You can do that today… possess the land God has given you!

Possessing the Land - Pt 3

You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth. And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end. Of one piece with the mercy seat shall you make the cherubim on its two ends. The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be. And you shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony that I shall give you. There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel. (Exodus 25:17-22 ESV).

Remember from yesterday that the Lord commanded the people to follow the Ark into the land. It was a command to follow His leadership; however, it was much more than that. On top of the Ark was a gold plate called the Mercy Seat over which two statues of cherubim knelt. It is described as the place where God is "enthroned upon the cherubim" (cf. Psalm 80:1; 99:1). The Ark was the OT equivalent to Immanuel, "God with us." When this chest led the way, it meant God was out in front. He would, so to speak, take the first steps into Canaan. Their task was to follow His lead, to pursue His presence, to come after Him. With this in mind, picture the scene. All Israel is encamped on a sloping hill beside the Jordan River. The Ark is positioned 1000 yards from them. Everyone in the nation would be able to see it. The priests would bear it by rods upon their shoulders as they stride toward the white water of Jordan. And everybody would understand the point that God intended for Israel to breach the Jordan with Him. But it could only be done if they focused on and followed Him. Centuries later, the true Ark of God would come among us, the living Immanuel. The Ark contained the Ten Commandments; Jesus fulfilled the Law (cf. Matthew5:17). The Ark preserved the manna by which God fed them in the wilderness; Christ is the bread of life (cf. John 6:31-46). The Ark held a symbol of God's power to bring life out of death; Jesus is alive from the dead and seated at the right hand of the Father. No wonder the writer of Hebrews calls us to keep our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith (cf. Hebrews 12:2). We all are constantly entering the future, moment-by-moment. As we gaze ahead at the challenges, filled with words like cancer, creditors, and crisis, it's easy to conclude that we're stuck in the wilderness, away from the abundance of God. As we consider a change for the better, so many of us throw in the towel. Don’t! Fix your eyes on Jesus! He will lead the way!

Possessing the Land - Pt 2

Then Joshua rose early in the morning and they set out from Shittim. And they came to the Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. At the end of three days the officers went through the camp and commanded the people, “As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it. Yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about 2,000 cubits in length. Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.” Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” And Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on before the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people. (Joshua 3:1-6 ESV).

The great question that loomed over the camp of Israel and over our lives today is, "Will we walk by sight or by faith?” Really, the question is whether we will believe that God is cap[able of handling the “impossible"? Our reading today is a key in finding this answer. God was about to reveal the steps that must be taken in every life if we are to move from being stuck in indecision and fear or moving forward in victory and faith. The experiences and decisions reported in this chapter were a major breakthrough for Israel. A whole new generation learned that victory depended totally upon the Lord. As we stand on the brink of this New Year and consider the obstacles that hinder us, it can feel like we're facing an impossible task between here and there. But these things are no match for the God of the Uncrossable! After three days the officers went through the camp and commanded the people: "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God carried by the Levitical priests, you must break camp and follow it." (v. 3). One of the keys in order to understand what God was instructing them to do is found in the command to follow the “Ark.” We get a better understanding when we look inside the Ark. The stone tablets upon which the finger of God had written the Ten Commandments were inside that box, a sign to all Israel of God's desire for relationship. There was also a pot of manna, a reminder of God's gracious provision during the previous forty years (cf. Exodus16:33-34). Also there was Aaron's rod. It was a dead stick that miraculously grew leaves and almonds to validate the power of God to use anything He willed to accomplish His will, down to the smallest detail (cf. Numbers 17). These were three historical reminders, three witnesses to God's love and will and provision and power. The Ark was a monument of God's faithfulness to Israel! We should find our own “Ark.” What are those reminders of God’s provision in your life? Use them as a reminder of His faithfulness. Use them to inspire you to take one more step in the direction your faith leads. You will not be disappointed!

Possessing the Land - Pt 1

And Joshua commanded the officers of the people, “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, ‘Prepare your provisions, for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving you to possess.’” (Joshua 1:10-11 ESV).

Sitting in my office and contemplating the year ahead is easy. Facing it may be a little more difficult. It is cold in Texas today. I will spend most of the day with clients. This is the primary day I’ve scheduled in my week to see people who are all hurting from the circumstances of their present journey. Some might call it “counseling” or “life-coaching.” I prefer to reference it as simple teaching. I share what I have been taught with those who may need little more than a nudge in the direction of peace and joy. This is the background of our reading today. Joshua has heard from the Lord. They are going to go into the land and possess it. There can be no doubt about that. Now he goes throughout the camp and simply tells them to pack up and get ready to go. In just here days they will travel across the river into this land “flowing with milk and honey” and inhabited by “giants.” The spies were sent in and they brought back good news. The people are ready. We need a bit of background here. The journey from Acacia Grove to the river's edge is an easy one, just a few miles over smooth ground. So we can assume that the Israelites probably finished relocating before the sun had risen. I'm sure the people were both excited and wondering if this was really happening. After all, forty years of wandering rarely increases our optimism. As they approached the river that formed a barrier between them and their longed-for promised land, what they saw by the light of day was both confusing and dreadful. The Jordan was defiantly impossible to cross. There's a simple sentence that gives us the picture: Now the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest season (Joshua 3:15). The gentle Jordan was now a raging river, swelled to flood stage. Currents can reach up to 40-miles an hour when the Jordan floods. What is more, the plain that surrounds this river was packed with tangled brush and dense growth. The Bible tells us that they spent the next three days right there, the passing torrent eroding all confidence. An insistent "no" began to form in their hearts as they listened to the roar of the water. It's easy for us to relate, isn’t it? So many of us face a "personal Jordan River" that feels so permanent and powerful that we don't even try to cross it. We read about the abundant life, but can't make it out of the wilderness. But God can turn a "no way" into a highway! Maybe it’s time for you to pack. Let’s cross over. It is our land after all! Whatever obstacles seem insurmountable, remember that the Lord has already given you the final victory. Challenges merely make life interesting. We are overcomers; and, that makes our life all the more meaningful.

Happy New Year!

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9 ESV).

The Tipton House in Cades Cove, tucked away in the Smoky Mountains, seems to be a great picture to begin our New Year together. And, the first chapter of Joshua seems to be a great way to begin our readings for this New Year. I must admit that the previous year has been an interesting year for me. The Lord continues to remind me of the truth of this great promise given to Joshua as he sets out to lead the nation into the Promised Land. I suppose we need to remember that even four decades later, Joshua would have had no trouble remembering the “giants in the land” he and the other spies saw. He would have remembered the discussion and ultimate decision not to go in because of the seemingly impossible odds of winning a war to conquer the land. Yet, a calm strength was conveyed to him in these words. Much like the fresh fallen snow in this wintry picture of one of my favorite places, he knew that God would be with him and that brought him tranquility in the midst of the noise of the world. Undoubtedly you have already conveyed your well-wishes of a "Happy New Year!" to many people. However, as we begin a new year, we all need more than a hopeful greeting. I am again reminded that we need to hear this incredible truth again. The noise of the world told Joshua of the enormity of his task; it shouted his vulnerability and weakness. He needed God's encouragement. Don’t we? There are many more questions ahead of us than there are answers. Will our health hold? Will our marriage last? Will I be able to hang on to my job? Will I get into the right school? Will I live to see the end of this year? Will the economy improve? Will there be a terrorist attack or some natural disaster that takes me or my loved ones? The future is nothing if it is not filled with uncertainty; and, yet, the Lord comes to us and says, "Don't be afraid; don't be discouraged." What happens in this coming year is not left to chance. God is in charge, and he promises to stay close: "The LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Many years after Joshua leads them across the Jordan, Jesus made the same promise when he said, "I am with you always" (cf. Matthew 28:20). That is what we may truly KNOW about the future. We are never left alone. He is with us and will never leave us. So, imagine yourself in your favorite place, surrounded with the calm and tranquility of what is best in your life. That is what awaits you. No calamity is so strong as to stand between Jesus and us! Happy New Year!