Vacant Lots

“‘How much less this temple I have built...’  The LORD said… ‘I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever.  My eyes and heart will always be there.’” 1 Kings 9:3.

If you want to read one of the most beautiful prayers you must read Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication in 1 Kings 9.  This is the prayer he raised to God before all of the people at the dedication of the temple.  He acknowledged the vastness and omnipresence of God whom he considered deserved much more than the workmanship of the temple.  The emotions that must have filled his heart that day as he stood before the fulfillment of a promise made to David, his father.   Did the tears stream down his cheeks as the humility in his heart became too much to contain?  Did he struggle to choke out the words as he stood upon God’s foundation, previously being only a vacant and empty lot? 

A vacant and empty lot…a temple that he had built…these are haunting words for a heart that used to be more concerned with flesh than spirit.  Seven years ago I turned my face to Jesus and asked Him to take up residence in my heart.  My heart became hungry for spiritual growth and purpose.  God heard my plea and He began displacing things of the flesh and rearranging things of the Spirit.  We still have a lot of work to accomplish in this total renovation.  He replaced the shingle I had hung that said ‘Brenda’ with a shingle that says ‘Redeemer.’  He promised me that His presence would remain there forever as He promised Solomon and as He promises you.  He promises His eyes will be with us eternally to reveal His spiritual wisdom.  His heart will never leave us, allowing us to tap into His compassion, His mercy and His love.

Every one of us has built temples in our heart and has determined what will be allowed to reside.  Christ wants to come in and cleanse us of the messes which we have made…to build on the emptiness and vacancies in our heart.  I love the message of this passage as it echoes the voice of eternity.  It is full of promises that have no end…blessings that overflow.  The more consecrated our temples become the more we long to be with Him.  I believe that this transformational journey ends with an Eccl 3:11 destination:

‘He has made everything beautiful in its time.  He has also set eternity in the hearts of men.’

Riding The Clouds

“When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down…they gathered around and said, ‘Come, make us gods who will go before us’” Ex 32:1.

Moses had ascended to the top of the mountain to fellowship with God, leaving the Israelites down below for 40 days and nights.  During that time, they couldn’t have imagined the behind the scenes activity going on between God and His chosen leader.  God and Moses partnering to accomplish God’s will.  He was giving Moses the commands that would build up God’s people into a holy nation with righteous character.  He was moving in ways that would steer them towards their God-destined legacy – receiving their promised land of freedom and favor.  But there they sat at the base of the mountain…impatient…faithless…looking for a substitute god.  The best they could come up with melted gold lumped together and placed on a platform with wheels.  The god they manufacturer couldn’t even move without someone pulling and tugging.  Their god couldn’t form words and wouldn’t be able to protect them.  Their impatience created not only a violation against God but a sub-par and ineffective answer.

How many times do we do the same thing?  We send our prayers up for God’s consideration and we wait…and we wait…and we keep looking to the horizon for resolution.  Where is our answer?  When will we get God’s response?  What is taking Him so long?  We become irritated and question if God is going to respond.  We look around and determine other ways to get resolutions and take action on our impatience.  Much like the lump of gold on wheels we drag around our self-made god getting even more exhausted.  It cannot protect us, nor can it lead us.  The only movement it makes is when we do all of the work.  It cannot comfort…it cannot heal …it cannot carry us. 

When we wait on God and trust that He is behind the scenes orchestrating our future, we will witness a God on wheels moving heaven and earth on our behalf.  He does not need us to pull him around on a platform for He is the platform and His spirit moves within us.  ‘Wherever the spirit would go, they would go…because the spirit… was in the wheels’ Ez. 1:20.  ‘O LORD, my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty.  He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters.  He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on wings of the wind’ Ps 104:1-3.

When we cannot see God’s plan in our lives we can certainly trust God’s faithfulness for our lives.  He is riding the clouds commanding our circumstances to work together for the best life He has for us.

 

Spiritual Homelessness

“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure” Jeremiah 17:9.

When our daughter was thirteen she began displaying behavior that was disturbing and unsettling for me and my husband.  She ended up in a residential treatment center at fourteen which involved lots of family counseling.  A few years prior she had desired for Bruce to adopt her to which her real father agreed.  That was the last time she saw her real father for 3 years.  Over the next few years her heart began to speak lies to her mind.  Her heart convinced our little girl’s spirit that she was unloved…unworthy…insignificant…all alone.  She couldn’t even see the blessings that surrounded her.  She was led by her emotions and became spiritually and emotionally homeless.  I remember during one counseling session the therapist had us place five chairs in a circle.  She asked Kristen to place her chair where she felt it belonged.  She removed the chair from the circle and placed it up against the wall all alone.  She convinced herself that she was different due to her circumstances…that she no longer belonged to a certain group of people…spiritually and emotionally homeless.  The circumstances that God allowed in her life would end up producing amazing fruit but her heart had to catch up with God’s plans which didn’t happen for 8 long years. 

But one day the clouds rolled back and she saw herself as God saw her – the daughter of a perfect Parent.  She quit listening to her heart and allowed God complete access to her life.  She surrendered all hurt and saw her life through the blessings of God…people who loved her…people who chose her… a life full of purpose and pleasure.  She removed those spiritually homeless clothes that were tattered with the same old emotions, stained with rights of entitlement and re-clothed herself with truth.  ‘Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy’ Eph 4:24.  Once Kristen saw herself through God’s eyes instead of the lies of her heart she began to produce the most beautiful fruit.  God has used her in amazing ways to bring others out of their spiritual homelessness.  He promises this for all of His children but not until we remove our barriers.  We must stand up, remove all rights and put on His will, His way and His purposes.

‘So if someone cleanses himself of such behavior, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart, useful for the Master, prepared for every good work’ 2 Ti 2:21.

All of these promises hinge on if.  Aren’t you ready for a wardrobe change?

Ebbing Away...

“From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God.  He said:  ‘In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me.  From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry…yet I will look again toward your holy temple.  The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head.  To the roots of the mountains I sank down…But you brought my life up from the pit, O LORD my God.  When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, LORD, and my prayer rose to you…Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.  But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you…And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land” Jonah 2:1-10.

I couldn’t help but to think of my mother this morning when I chose this passage.  Every time I began to stop with one verse the subsequent verses also pulled at my heart.  This passage is so tender to me because it exemplifies the manner in which my mother walked out the darkest night of her soul – saying goodbye to her 42 year old little girl and my dad, her love for over 50 years all within twelve months.   A few months after Daddy died she turned to me and said how grateful she was to God that He took Beth first.  She went on to explain that her blessing was that she didn’t have to face the loss of a child alone.  She and Daddy leaned on each other and walked their difficult journey hand in hand.  This is my Jonah and the Whale story.  While in the belly of darkness she was able to praise God much like Jonah.  She knew that her circumstances could have allowed her to cling to worthless idols…anger…bitterness…isolation…but to do that she would have forfeited His healing grace.  So like Jonah she clung to God instead of her emotions. 

While researching, I found this excerpt from a sermon which so closely resembled my mother I couldn’t determine if he was speaking about Jonah or her.  ‘Inside the whale, Jonah the Prophet blessed the Lord. He called upon the Lord in his affliction. Jonah did not demonstrate fear nor are we told he appeared troubled. Jonah in his wisdom knew the Lord created this great fish that consumed him. He knew the great fish's life and direction were both guided by the Lord. Jonah inside this fish's belly was most probably in darkness…He was most probably tossed about constantly...As Jonah underwent all of these perils within the fish we are not told of anything negative he said against the Lord.’  Bishop Youssef - Bishop, Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. 

I will forever be inspired and humbled by the faithfulness and extraordinary example my mother showed me during her season of deepest despair. It is sometimes staggering to know that my children are still watching my spiritual responses to adversity. We must pattern those who pattern God in love, faith and forgiveness if we expect those in our sphere of influence to do the same. I know for myself I have some big high heels to fill!

 

Spiritual Sunrises

“Where can I flee from your presence…if I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me” Psalm 139:7, 10.

My imagination continues to run wild while considering Jonah’s experience.  I believe that any story is in the details, and we are given few regarding the timeframe on the ship.  This morning as I was watching the wings of the sunrise take flight I couldn’t help but wonder how many sunrises Jonah saw before God sent the great wind and violent storm.  I searched several resources but couldn’t find anything.  We are simply told that God called…Jonah fled…God sent calamity.  But God is anything but simple.

That alone could make us fearful if we were not totally sold out on believing that God is love.  I cannot help but to believe that even in his disobedience God allowed Jonah to experience some beautiful sunrises and amazing sunsets before the storm arose.  My research states that since Jonah was held in such high esteem by royalty he undoubtedly had the financial resources to charter this entire ship.  I can just imagine the first morning after he fled…’he  awakes…goes up top… breathes in that fresh ocean air…the water is smooth as glass…he watches the sun burst through the early morning cracks in the sky with oranges and reds.  His heart holds relief that he has escaped God’s command, while at the same time holds guilt that he is withholding something from others.’  I wonder if his emotions overtook the beauty of the first morning.  Was he even able to sit at the end of the first day and absorb the magnificent sunset before him?  Knowing our magnificent God, there were still amazing blessings within his disobedience.

There are times in life when we find ourselves surrounded in a sea of emotions.  These times may be brought on by our sin or a result of circumstances that God has allowed in our life.  It is a journey that we must take as determined by God, since nothing enters our life without the permissive filter of God.  If you are reading this devotional, you are blessed with the gift of vision…the financial resources to have a computer…the mental capacity to understand its message...both time and freedom to worship…all spiritual sunrises and sunsets that God has blessed you with.  Are we missing all of the blessings for which God is surrounding us by focusing on our circumstances instead of the journey?  Do we take for granted our children that God has entrusted to us?  Have we lost the gratitude for that spouse who loves us dearly?  What grumblings and complaints do we express about our lives instead of praising God for His blessings? 

May we all awake this morning to the realization of our spiritual sunrises and sunsets that God has given us.  ‘Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows’ James 1:17.

From Favor to Flight

“King Jeroboam restored the border…according to the word of the LORD, the God of Israel, which He spoke through His servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet who was of Gath-hepher” 2 Kings 14:25. ‘But Jonah rose up to flee…from the presence of the LORD’ Jonah 1:3.

One of the things I love most about the Bible is the transparency of the cast of characters whom God used in mighty ways. The good, the bad and the ugly have been divinely splashed over the pages of the Word for both application and encouragement. Can you imagine if the Bible was full of perfect people doing extraordinary things? In considering Jonah, it is obvious that he enjoyed favor and prestige among both royalty and the Israelites. He was very effective in being the mouthpiece of God, a true servant of the Master. One might say that Jonah had it all…had the world by the tail and the favored ear of God.

This is one of those times when I wish I could sit at the feet of Christ and settle in for the rest of the story. I am more interested in knowing what on earth happened between 2 Kings and the Book of Jonah that would make this favored and surrendered prophet of God become a spiritual runaway. How did the servant’s voice and will become louder than his Master’s voice and will? Was it gradual or did some life event happen that made Jonah bitter towards God? What circumstance did Jonah experience that made his flesh rise up within him…death of a spouse, a wayward child, death of his sweet mom and dad? My commentary tells me that one of the predominant characteristics of Jonah was his insatiable desire to strictly judge. It makes me wonder if his spiritual slide dealt with his inability to release his own perspective and feelings about something God had allowed in his life. When we secrety judge God it seems it plays out through our judgment of others.

This brings me to a few staggering questions. How long will we be allowed to play God in our judgment of others? How patient will God be with a wayward servant whose heart and attitude is diseased with bitterness for whatever circumstance God has assigned? To what extent will God allow our unresolved emotions to rise up? How many blessings will be missed for ourselves and our family because of our unwillingness to love and forgive instead of judge?

All very good questions and questions Jonah had to face while sitting in the belly of darkness. Thankfully, God is a patient God who is not going anywhere and is willing to allow His children to sit and stew in discomfort for a season, but only for a season. How sad is the servant who goes from favor to flight when the tough times hit and can’t seem to rise above the circumstances. Only through the power of Christ can we release our sense of entitlement and unresolved anger in life. Christ can command our ‘great fish’ to cough us up so that He can revive, restore and renew our lives again…the answer is in the surrender of our rights and the acceptance of His will.

Talking Back

“For who resists his will?  But who are you, O man, to talk back to God?  Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why…?’ Does not the potter have the right…?”  Romans 9:19-21.

Let’s just face it…life is tough!  Whichever way we turn no one is really exempt from adversity and suffering.  It may appear that way for some but no one escapes pain.  One person may experience the death of a child while the other the death of a parent.  Another may suffer in a terminal illness while someone else has to lose their spouse to a terminal illness.  I am a parent of a recovered heroin addict while other parents have disabled children who are totally dependent on them.  The difference is how we respond to our circumstances.   Some hang on to the pain more than others, not even realizing they are secretly harboring bitterness against God’s will.  Some find freedom from pain by surrendering their own desires and accepting God’s will.  I truly believe that God expects our questions and confusing emotions.  He understands our disappointments and devastations, but there comes a time when questions must turn to acceptance, and emotions must be sorted out and settled once and for all. This is the only way to rid ourselves of the emotional toxins that master over us.

Paul doesn’t pull any punches in our passage this morning.  My commentary states that ‘Paul is not silencing all human questioning of God, but he is speaking to those...who want to make God answerable to them for what he does and who, by their questions, defame the character of God’ NIV Study Bible, 1753.   

When we allow our emotions to rule over us we are resisting His will.  We run around throwing spiritual temper tantrums regarding something God willed, permitted and brought to pass.  We vent our resistance to God’s will towards others and convince ourselves it is justified.  No one holds the market on suffering unless they buy the lie that Satan is selling.  I read this morning that 'God has an eternal filter in which nothing can touch us unless He permits it.'  We may not understand God’s decisions but we can decide on how long we want to keep our eyes on our circumstances instead of on God. 

'And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God…Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you’ Eph. 4:30-32. 

Not My Calling...

“My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God. But this word of the LORD came to me… ‘You are not to build a house for my Name…’ 1 Ch 22:7-8.

King David had spent the biggest part of his life following God and passionately serving Him in whatever manner God chose. It was only natural that after all of the battles he fought and won at God’s direction, he would be the one to build the temple of the Lord. However, it was not the will of God for King David to build. Can you imagine the disappointment for David when he discovered it would be another to build for the Lord? Did he wonder if he had done something wrong? Was he being punished? The thoughts must have kept him up at night.

As I became an adult I thought that being a Christian meant doing whatever needed to be done in the church. Whenever there was a need I was the first to claim the job and run off to accomplish the task. My calendar seemed to always have a to-do item in the name of the Lord. However, what really mattered to God was the condition of my heart. It seems the closer I get to God the further I move away from understanding His will for my life. Am I to build? What am I to build? When am I to build? The questions can be dizzying as they swirl around in my head. These questions certainly have a place but not at the front of the line. David gives sound advice to everyone involved with building the temple. ‘Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the LORD your God. Begin to build the sanctuary of the LORD God…’ 1 Ch 22:19. David understood that everyone had a part in building but not until each had sought God with everything in them.

Our passion and devotion must first be anchored in the person of God instead of the work of God. When our desires center on our unchanging God our areas of service will be revealed. Through our fellowship with Him we will discover His desires for our assignments in His timing. We cannot successfully build an indwelling of Christ in our hearts until we transform the attitudes of our hearts. In looking back, I realize I had it backwards. I thought that through service I would experience God but now I know that through God I will experience service.

Knock Knock Who's There?

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door be opened” Matthew 7:7-8.

I have always thought this passage was an invitation for God to come into my heart.  It wasn’t until I was studying this passage this morning that I noticed where God dropped this command…after His speech on judging others.  Jesus knew the importance and the power of one’s mind when little mercy is given.

When we judge others we form an opinion or notion about them based upon our own perception, past experiences and wounds.  We ask for the opinion of others for validation…we seek our own rights based on our emotions…we knock on the door of entitlement pounding our emotional fist and demanding entry.   Jesus knew that it would take a humble heart and help from His Father to lay down all rights of entitlement.  Before this verse He spoke of looking at the sin in our own lives before we point out the sins of others.  We should always look at our circumstances through God’s perspective – not our own.  Our perspective in judgment frequently presents a case against someone, while God’s perspective will always make a case for someone.  As the Bible states, there is one Lawgiver and one Judge (James 4:12).

We must ask for God’s perspective for clarity...we must seek His character to be able to give mercy to others…and we must knock on the door of His heart so we can gain access to His compassion and forgiveness.  When we ask…seek…and knock on the door of God’s heart, then we come in for the blessings of receiving His truth…finding His peace…and entering into His rest. 

When we judge we have already made up our mind, leaving no room for God to show us His truth in our circumstances.  Which door are you knocking on?

Until We Meet Again

“When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining… ‘Let’s decide by lot who will get it’…Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother…John 19:23-25.

Yesterday I was keeping the grandchildren for my daughter.  As bedtime neared I remembered that Kherington’s blanket was in my daughter’s car.  I quickly began explaining to Kherington that because her mommy had her blanket we would take Mommy’s blanket.  Kherbear loved the idea that she would have something so dear to her Mommy.  As we were driving to their home she explained that she loved her mommy’s blanket because when she pulled it closely she could smell her mommy.  It reminded me of the time I went into my parents’ closet after my dad died, and I could still smell his scent on the clothes.  Most of us have something of those we have loved and lost which we hold near and dear to our hearts.

I didn’t even know Mary but this passage tears my heart apart.  There she stood beside her son as He hung on the cross.  I imagine through her heartbreak and tears she was distracted by the conversation of these men handling her baby’s clothes as an ante in a poker game.  The most private clothing, his undergarment, lay tossed upon the ground as they cast lots for the piece that most smelled like her son.  Like Kherington, she would have given anything to take that home and pull closely to herself. 

Mary suffered deeply and lost much that day as she walked away empty handed of anything tangible.  But Jesus gave her something more precious for her hands.  He gave her something greater than fabric...He gave her a protector…hope for the future...a surrogate son.  "When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, ‘Dear woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’  From that time on, this disciple took her into his home." John 19:26-27.  Both were devastated, but both embraced their newly defined relationship in Christ.

Whatever is lost will be found in Jesus.  Whatever is temporarily removed on earth will be received in heaven.  Jesus will surround us with those he loves to walk hand in hand with us through life.  No one walks alone no matter who they have lost, although Satan loves to convince us otherwise.  He assures us we have lost more than others when in reality loss is the way to gain.  We must trust in God that whoever is taken from us is being prepared to welcome us into eternity.  I know personally, that when my name is called a certain group of Millers and Holders will be casting lots as to who will get the first hug!  We cannot buy into the lie that we are unique in our pain, but embrace God's will with complete acceptance and surrender.  In thinking of my loved ones I am comforted to know that Mary and Jesus walk hand in hand on the crystal streets of heaven, and so will I one day.

Ticket, please...

“The word of the LORD came to Jonah…‘Go...’  But Jonah ran away from the LORD…After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed…to flee from the LORD” Jonah 1:1, 3.

Jonah just paid for the most expensive ticket available – the ticket of judgment and disobedience.  God called Jonah to go to the city where great wickedness existed, and preach of God’s upcoming discipline if they did not turn from their ways.  Jonah, full of disdain and bitterness towards the people, didn’t want them to be saved.  He felt they didn’t deserve forgiveness and pardon, and judged their faith.  I believe he suffered from spiritual elitism.  He clearly was called to faith and forgiveness for these people but bought a ticket on USS Disobedience.

God has made it crystal clear that we are to display our faith to all people in love, forgiveness and humility.  We are all called to go…forgive…testify…love.  We are not called to judge the faith of another and create barriers in our fellowship with God.  ‘…have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?’ ‘Speak and act as those who are going to be judged…because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful’ James 2:12.  ‘Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it.  When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.  There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy.  But you – who are you to judge your neighbor?’ James 4:11-12.  So the word of the Lord comes to us…but do we flee?  Do we buy a ticket to nowhere and sail away on our own self-righteousness?

In God we claim that we love…and yet we judge.  We claim because of God we walk in the light…and yet we hide in the darkness of our bitterness.  We claim we walk in the will of God…and yet we buy a ticket fleeing away from His commands through our unforgiveness.

We must be people who practice what we preach.  We must purge ourselves of the very things of which we feel entitled…bitterness, resentfulness and an unwillingness to forgive.  Instead of words, our actions must speak our faith so that our testimonies and ministries will be authentic.

‘We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.’ 2 Co. 6:3.

On a Cloudy Day

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders…and run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus…Consider him who endured such opposition…so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” Hebrews 12:1-3.

Have you ever noticed the power of encouragement being based upon the credibility of the encourager?  While facilitating Griefshare the one thing I repeatedly heard was the frustration of hearing ‘I know how you feel’ from those who haven’t had the experience.  I know for myself when my daughter was living on the streets as a heroin addict, my greatest hope and encouragement would come from those who had run the same race and became victorious through their faith.  This is what the above passage means.  Encouragement and hope is experienced when we realize that God places testifiers around us in our journey.

The cloud of witnesses in Hebrews refers to those ‘heroes of the past who were not spectators but our inspiring examples.  The Greek word translated ‘witnesses’ is the origin of the English word ‘martyr’ and means ‘testifiers.’  They bear testimony to the power of faith and to God’s faithfulness’ NIV Study Bible, p.1910.   Great heroes of faith still live today, and I only have to look as far as my mother when considering a witness to the power of God.   Imagine you are running the race of grief, having lost a child and spouse as she did.  Daily you are expected to continue your life with the heaviness and hindrances of sadness and sorrow.  Picture God placing people like my mother on the sidelines who have run that same race and have experienced great healing in their lives.  By their testimonies and examples, hope is experienced through the same means they experienced hope – being surrounded by those who are keeping their eyes on Christ.  They pull for you…they cheer for you… they encourage you knowing with certainty that you will finish the race of healing.  In their confidence they assure you that one day you will break the finish line, experience joy through healing and move to the sidelines to cheer the next runner on.

We must surround ourselves with testifiers instead of spectators – those who walk in the power of God.  Testifiers experience…spectators watch.

Pulling in Nets

“‘I’m going out to fish,’ Simon Peter told them… ‘Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some’” John 21:2, 6.

It was the days following the death of his friend, his companion, his teacher…the One whom predicted his denials.  Peter was filled with shame and disgrace at how he crumbled with fear the night his precious friend was arrested in the garden.  He lived under the guilt and regret that he had done nothing to prevent the tragedy from happening.  Now it was over…the sun had set and so had his zeal and fervor for the Lord.  With his head hung low and his heart even lower he returned to what he knew best…sitting in the dark fishing where no one could see his streaming tears and broken heart.  The night passed slowly and the only thing Peter caught was more self- imposed condemnation…self-inflicted guilt.  But…Jesus refused to leave him in his guilt and grief offering a different catch, a catch that yielded forgiveness, restoration and renewal.  Peter was never more aware of the grace of Christ as he was when he realized it was Jesus wanting to bless a traitor… a betraying friend…a failure.  How humbling and quiet Peter must have been around that campfire early that morning as Jesus spoke to those He loved.  The thoughts must have crowded his mind…How can He love me?  Where is His anger?  Where are the disappointing glances…the deserving jabs?

This simple passage speaks directly to the heart of failure followed by forgiveness…guilt followed by grace…the undeserving receiving a net full of blessings.  What if Peter would have allowed his guilt to speak more loudly that Christ’s grace?  What if the shame was too unbearable to face Jesus and he skipped that breakfast where he received complete redemption from the Redeemer? 

There is failure in all of us providing plenty of reasons for guilt and embarrassment with the manner in which we treat Jesus.  There are times we look the other way when His nature is being questioned.  There are times when we treat those in the Body of Christ with such disdain and dismissiveness that we reflect ourselves instead of reflecting Christ.  Many times we look the other way to avoid spiritual eye contact with God out of regret.  Thankfully, Christ does not wait on us to come to Him.  He knows that each of us struggle with our own nets, filling them with an inedible yield.  He calls us to come to His offering where He provides the food. 

We must lay our nets of guilt down and enjoy the catch of Christ.  His net is filled with love, forgiveness, blessings and opportunities to join Him in fishing for men.  When we pull in the nets of Christ we pull in a yield to feed the spiritually hungry who God places around us.  Christ had every reason to deny forgiveness to Peter, but He was not interested in validation and broken promises.  Christ was all about the work of His Father and the message of redemption which is the example given for each of our lives. 

 

Whatever we have in our nets will reflect the way we treat others and will impact our walk with God. 

Storm Watchers

“Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him.  Without warning, a furious storm came up…so that the waves swept over the boat.” Matthew 8:23-24.

It used to be my belief that the greater the Christian the better the life.  My definition of better was more about having an easier life than experiencing Christ.   As I get spiritually older I realize all too clearly that the Christ-led life is much different than the Christian life.  The difference is whether you are the one on the shore listening to the teachings of Jesus or the one who follows Jesus into the boat.  Either way we know Jesus but which experience provides a more intimate relationship with God?

Most likely, those who didn’t follow Jesus into the boat still saw the furious storm from the water’s edge.  I am sure they must have been concerned but they lacked the emotional experience of being spared from the storm…they witnessed it without experiencing it.  They never felt the fear so they missed out on the comfort.  They lacked the emotional probability of their life being cut short, so they missed out on the miracle of deliverance. 

We each choose whether to stay on the water’s edge or follow Jesus into the boat.  While we can be storm watchers and storm chasers running up and down the banks we will never be called storm survivors.  It is only when we follow Jesus into the boat that we begin living a life of tumultuous adversity followed by divine delivery.  Through each of life’s storms we learn the faithfulness of God and the incredible love and loyalty He has for each of us. 

Some of the most tender moments with Christ in my life is when He leaned over the side of the boat and gently pushed us away from shore.  Scary as it may be to go into deep and unchartered waters, the calm that He provides is a calm that can never be found on the water’s edge.

Breaking Out

“In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her” Judges 7:2

Our church has just completed a month long campaign to raise both awareness and funds for the purchase of a home for victims of sex trafficking in our area.  The financial challenge for our church was set at $125,000 with a miracle challenge of $150.000.  There were host desserts in the homes of some of the families, while many board members spoke on behalf of this cause to our Life Groups.  During the month we had speakers and our minister wove the challenge into a series of four sermons.    There was great emphasis on the ‘miracle challenge’ which makes me giggle under my breath.

We always seem to think we know what a miracle looks like.  We seem to place God in a box thinking we are aware of His mighty abilities and miraculous workings.  But all too often, as in this case, we sell God short and limit Him to our interpretation of what a miracle may look like.  In this case, we were so off the mark as He brought in an excess of $388,000 to go to this important cause.  I am well aware God always goes bigger and different than man’s determination.  I believe that God’s ways are unique and over the top to avoid man taking credit for the results, and snatching the glory away from God.  This obscene amount comes from an infinite God whose resources will never run dry since all things belong to Him.  We diminish God through our diminished beliefs in who He is and what He can do. 

God is at work all around us and has been since before the creation.  His eyes scan the earth and see the needs of those needing to be rescued.  He then puts into place His divine plan and invites us to join Him.  King David understood that God was more than a God who operated within his box, his impressions and his determination.  Upon being victorious against the Philistines with God at the helm, David named that place of victory Baal Perazim.  Baal Perazim means ‘the Lord breaks out.’

Last Sunday, as we sat in the sanctuary awaiting the results of the campaign, we experienced our own Baal Perazim.  Through God’s spirit connecting the hearts of our church to His cause, His plans and His purposes we experienced God as He broke out of the limited box for which we had placed him.  I don’t believe our church will ever be the same and we are humbled by the greatness of our God beyond anything we have witnessed corporately.  When you think of God, think greater…think higher…think grander…think infinitely and be blessed by our Eph. 3:20-21 experience.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!  Amen.”

Spiritual Clusters

“Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him, who is the Head, that is, Christ.  From him the whole body joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work” Eph. 4:15-16.

Saturday marked the two-year anniversary of my father-in-law’s passing over into heaven.  He suffered with Alzheimer’s and lived the final year of his life with us.  I was amazed at how differently the body responded to an unhealthy brain.  A healthy brain is the guiding force for a healthy body.  The brain of an Alzheimer patient shows an excess of certain proteins that form clusters resulting in cognitive misfires and disconnects in the brain.  Where there are disconnects in the brain there in inappropriateness in the behavior.  Where goes the mind, the body follows.

I drew a parallel this morning while considering Christ being the Head of the body – the church.  I don’t believe it is mere coincidence that Christ was named the Head as that is where the mind resides.  When we are spiritually unhealthy our mind tends to become divided, and barriers to our relationship with God are formed.  Some of our spiritual clusters are made up of bitterness and judgmental attitudes towards others which cause our behavior to disconnect from love.  Some clusters involve fears that send messages to our faith that God is not enough to accomplish that which we are called.  Our spiritual attitude and behavior will not be fully healthy until we allow the Head of believers – Christ Jesus – to take over our mind and align our thoughts to Him. 

‘Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God’ Col. 3:1-3.

When we align our thinking with the mind of Christ we become more capable of adjusting our behavior with the character of Christ.  Every thought and action will be held together and supported by the Head of believers – Jesus Christ.  When in concert everything will become attached as one and grown up into a beautifully formed spiritual life.

Sitting Upon the Stone

“The Amalekites came and attacked…As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning.  When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it.  Aaron and Hur held his hands up – one on one side, one on the other – so that his hands remained steady till sunset.  So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword” Ex. 17:8, 11-13.

The Amalekites were a group of evil people who approached and threatened the Israelites as they were traveling through the desert.  We discover that Moses, well advanced in his years and strength, commanded his aide, Joshua, to lead the battle against Amalek.  Joshua had the power of his sword while Moses had a weapon much greater than the other army – prayer and those surrounding him with support.  As the sword of Joshua led the battle, the prayers of Moses called upon the power of God to fight the battle .  Each man knew his place in the battle of the Lord and both were obedient and victorious.

The two essential things in this battle where God triumphed against evil were prayer and the sword (God’s word).  My commentary states ‘as long as Moses held up his hand in intercession and in dependence on God, the Israelites had the margin of victory.  But when his hand sagged, Amalek gained the ascendance.  Amalek…is a type of the flesh – that is, the evil, corrupt, Adamic nature of man.’  To be victorious against evil, we must seek God daily in prayer, and allow His words to infiltrate our hearts.  The Lord will always wage war on the flesh, fighting the battle for us through our prayers and His word. This is the blueprint for spiritual success - allowing God's word to go before our flesh and remain seated upon the stone of Christ. 

Our circumstances on earth may feel like battles wearing us down but God will always provide a Stone upon which to sit, and the Body of Christ to help us hold up our hands.  ‘As you come to him, the living Stone – rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him…See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.’ 1 Peter 2:4, 6.