Year: 2016

“Crappy” Morning = Blessings Realized

We are living without power right now. I ordered power back in April, requesting that it be in service by June 15 in preparation for us selling our house and moving to our farm land. Buthe it is now the end of July and we still have no power. We are living off of generator power during the hottest July that I can remember. 

So I’m used to the challenge of repeatedly refilling, restarting, and flipping tripped breakers that comes with an imperfect daily life of making due with weeks of living with this challenge. I’ve also made enough peaceful noise with Duke Energy so that hopefully they know me by name even though we still sit day after day with no power. I’m also very aware of the insanely high cost of running off of gasoline or propane and how quickly we are burning through our savings that were meant to help build the house. I’ve made my peace with those things and I’m trusting the Lord even in the storm. 

But this morning when I started the generator on propane,  it ran for about a minute and then it shut off. The big tank was low after a full weekend running without a refill since Friday, but it wasn’t empty.  “Hmm,  that’s interesting.”, I thought. But I filled the generator with gasoline, switched it over to gas powered,  and fired it up,  then headed back inside. 

Before my wife even had time to ask me, we heard the generator stop again. The concerned look on her face said it all,  and I tried my best to show confidence as I headed outside to troubleshoot . “Lord, help us this morning”, I prayed, because if the generator is having problems, I knew that we are in real trouble since Duke Energy just keeps pushing our install back week after week. 

Luckily, a few maintenance checks later – cleaning the filter,  adding some oil, confirming my battery connections – and it fired up and had been running like a champ so far. “Thank you,  Jesus. Prayer really works.”, I’ll tell my friends. 

Now to empty that black tank of toilet goodies into a cart so that I can haul it to the RV sewage dump station – and the attachment hose on the “poo cart” appears to be leaking now. Yes, a sewage hose LEAKING. “Thank you,  Jesus, another opportunity for prayer.”
Have a blessed day,  friends! 

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33 NLT

Trust overcomes Worry and frees Joy

​“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

Matthew 6:34 NLT

Do you catch your mind racing over and over things and possibilities and risks and dangers that might lie ahead for you tomorrow? This can be paralyzing your joy and hindering your ability to enjoy the blessings of today. This can become a dam that is blocking the flow of Christ’s love through your life and a wall that is keeping you from living the abundant life that Christ has for you today. 
If you are going to think about things for tomorrow,  then limit the time spent on it to a short period of constructive planning. Write down your options on paper,  possibly with the pros and cons of each, pray about them. And instead of pickling one as your only acceptable solution – prioritize them in the order that you believe is preferred,  then pray again that God will allow you to remain flexible so that you can accept His will in leading you along the best path. 
Then, let it go. Don’t dwell over it. Don’t worry over it – especially if your worries are over something that you cannot control. Instead, trust the Lord.

God of blessing, what a mess I create when I wrestle the future out of your hand and take it upon myself. I pray for patient trust for today and good confidence for tomorrow,  knowing that nothing can separate me from your love,  because my curse fell on Jesus so your blessing can come to me. Amen. (HC 8)

Will you trust Him? Do you believe that He is faithful and true? Do you believe that He is for you and not against you? Can you accept that He has life abundant laid out for you to walk in joy today? Or will you be more content wrestling with the worry and doubt that seeks to wrap is chains around you? Those chains have no power or airport over your life, child of God. Seek first the Lord and trust in His plan and purpose for your life today. 

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
John 10:10 NLT

Decide to enjoy.  En-joy. Walk IN JOY.

“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?  Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?  Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing,  yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.  And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’  These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.  Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Matthew 6:24‭-‬33 NLT

Enabling

​So the Lord God banished them from the Garden of Eden, and he sent Adam out to cultivate the ground from which he had been made. After sending them out, the Lord God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And he placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

Genesis 3:23‭-‬24 NLT

Sometimes the best help we can offer someone is to let them fall.
Yes, our heart wants to help,  to lift up, to serve and meet the needs of those around us – but being an effective servant of the Lord requires discipline and discernment in addition to sacrifice. 
Many lessons are taught best in the fiery trials of life experience. Telling someone what is best just doesn’t seem to prove as effective of a teacher as letting someone encounter the consequences of their poor choices. 
We can’t be afraid of our children being mad at us over our making good patenting decisions that are in opposition to their “wants” but are in line with what they actually “need” – and we can do more harm to them if we protect them from the consequences before they have the opportunity to learn the correct lesson. 
God is not an enabler of sin. Jesus Christ didn’t come to forgive us so we could just keep on sinning with no consequences. No, the Bible teaches us that the church will be judged first,  and that teachers will be held to an even higher standard. Biblically speaking, Jesus is not the way to avoid facing judgement – He is the way to prepare us for the judgement that lies ahead. He is not our “get out of hell free card”, He is our “prepare us for righteous living” guide and comforter. 
His rod and His staff,  His correction,  is meant to comfort us and teach us those hard lessons that are quite contrary to our carnal, worldly, selfish nature. He doesn’t say come step into an easy, leisurely,  prosperous life – He bids us to come, bear our cross,  bear the burdens of others, lay down our lives, and follow Him. 
It sounds scary. It sounds painful. It sounds like foolish sacrifice. But its rewards are unexplainable and immeasurable – when we aren’t seeking the rewards with our eyes but we are willing to seek Him with our hearts and lives. He is actually revealing Himself to us through these fiery trials and challenges and temptations – and we choose either spirit or flesh truly is the desire of our heart by what we choose to cling to. 
Yes, He let us fall. So that He could raise us back up. So that we like Christ can be raised to life. Have you been raised to life? Is your faith being tried and tested so it can be proven trustworthy? Will your life today serve and honor God in grattitude for the new life you are given? Will your light shine brightly against the darkness? 
Or are you still outside the gate, feeling separated from the Lord? He hasn’t left you abandoned. Cry out to Him and listen for His quiet,  peaceful voice. Search Him out in the Word of God. Seek His face in prayer and He will reveal Himself to you,  friend. And be prepared for the lessons, the change, the trials that put you in opposition to the normal flow of the world.

My God is my Search and Rescue team.

​You brought me up from the grave, O  Lord . You kept me from falling into the pit of death. Sing to the Lord , all you godly ones! Praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.

Psalms 30:3‭-‬5 NLT

Joy in the Lord.

Peace in the storm. 

The Love of Christ. 

These can be had regardless of circumstances or season. They are the result of faith instead of doubt, obedience instead of rebellion, repentance instead of sinfulness,  Kingdom living instead of worldliness, sacrificial service to others instead of self worship, generosity towards others instead of selfishness.
Yes,  His ways are so much different than our own. 
If you are struggling today – whether it is struggling against temptation, struggling financially to make ends meet, struggling spiritually with doubt, struggling emotionally with depression – He will lift you out of the depths. Take your worries and concerns to Him in the brokenness of heartfelt prayer. He has not forsaken you, little flock. Turn back to Him. 
And if you are stuck,  trapped, and feel like you cannot make the journey back home to His house. If you feel lost and as if you don’t even know the way back, cry out to Him. He will leave the 99 and come for you.  He will rescue you, even from the depths of darkness. Cry out to Him from your heart. Your humble brokenness is the only sacrifice you need bring to the altar,  child. It is the only thing of any value we have to offer to the creator of the heavens and earth who will open His arms to us and shine down upon us His blessing and favor.

Enter into the Chuppah

​One thing I have desired of the Lord , That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord , And to inquire in His temple.

Psalms 27:4 NKJV

“The chuppah is a tapestry attached to the tops of four poles. The word chuppah means covering or protection, and is intended as a roof or covering for the bride and groom at their wedding.

The chuppah is not merely a charming folk custom, a ceremonial object carried over from a primitive past. It serves a definite, though complicated, legal purpose: It is the decisive act that formally permits the couple’s new status of marriage to be actualized, and it is the legal conclusion of the marriage process that began with betrothal.

Chuppah symbolizes the groom’s home, and the bride’s new domain. More specifically, the chuppah symbolizes the bridal chamber, where the marital act was consummated in ancient times.”

Yes, our baptism in Christ is our chuppah, it is our covering that allows us to enter into and dwell in the house of the Lord. It is this simple but beautiful transition from our old life to our new life that allows us to gaze upon the beauty of the Word of God, to get to seek Him, find Him, and know Him personally in prayer and in our daily lives. 

And is there any better place to dwell than in the shelter of His tabernacle set upon the solid foundation of Christ?

In our lives today,  let us dwell with the Lord and find comfort in His faithfulness,  His righteousness, His mercy,  His love. Lord, come live with us and walk with us today. Even as we plan our steps, let them be established and set firm upon the way by the Lord. Don’t let us turn aside to other distractions. Don’t let the enemy steal away the joy and purpose that the Lord has for us today. Let us dwell with the Lord continually,  without ceasing. Amen.

Enemies? My People?

​Your hand will find all Your enemies; Your right hand will find those who hate You. You shall make them as a fiery oven in the time of Your anger; The Lord shall swallow them up in His wrath, And the fire shall devour them. Their offspring You shall destroy from the earth, And their descendants from among the sons of men. For they intended evil against You; They devised a plot which they are not able to  perform. Therefore You will make them turn their back; You will make ready Your  arrows on Your string toward their faces. Be exalted, O Lord , in Your own strength! We will sing and praise Your power.

Psalms 21:8‭-‬13 NKJV

Enemies of the Lord. Don’t we have to admit that we have walked amongst that camp? That we have stood in the darkness of rebellion against what we know is good and right? Haven’t our actions, words, and thoughts betrayed our love of self and this world over God’s way?

Betrayed God, forgive me for willingly rebelling against your commands of life. My sin has turned light to dark and twisted what is good;  all feels lost, and I am in deeper than I know. But I thank you that even in my sin and shame, you continue to call my name. Amen. (BC 14)

But aren’t we now walking in a different life? A blood bought life purchased at the cross with the most expensive and valuable of sacrifices poured out for our salvation, for our redemption,  for our reconciliation into a new life, a new calling, a new purpose for Christ to live in and through our lives? 
Yes,  haven’t we set our eyes upon His Kingdom because the veil is torn and the purposes of eternity prove more weighty than the worries, temptations, or desires of the moment. Lord, thank you for restoring our sight, for setting our feet upon the solid foundation of Christ the cornerstone, and for offering us the opportunity to build upon it,  through your love and righteousness to be manifest today in our lives. Remind us that our reasonable service is simply a grateful response to the love that You have extended to us, and that we are purpose built to deliver to those around us. Remind us,  that we are your people. Show the world that we are your people in action and love, not just in hypocritical words. 

And I have put My words in your mouth; I have covered you with the shadow of My hand, That I may plant the heavens, Lay the foundations of the earth, And say to Zion, ‘You are My people.’ ”

Isaiah 51:16 NKJV

His Mercy Endures Forever. My mercy?

​Oh, give thanks to the Lord , for He  is good! For His mercy endures forever.

Psalms 136:1 NKJV

His MERCY endures FOREVER.
If you ever forget this, read Psalm 136. Read the Parable of the Prodigal Son Luke 15:11-32. 
And we are meant to follow in His example. Extend mercy, friends. Forgive that unforgivable thing that was done to you. Be merciful towards those who do not deserve your mercy. Extend love to those who will not love you in return. Offer truth and salvation and wisdom to those who will even refuse it and mock and ridicule you. 

So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

James 2:12‭-‬13 NKJV

Everyone in distress,  in debt, and bitter in soul, come gather together and find rest…

​David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became commander over them. And there were with him about four hundred men.  And David went from there to Mizpeh of Moab. And he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and my mother stay with you, till I know what God will do for me.” And he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him all the time that David was in the stronghold. Then the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not remain in the stronghold; depart, and go into the land of Judah.” So David departed and went into the forest of Hereth.

1 Samuel 22:1‭-‬5 ESV

There will be times in our lives when we will need a shelter,  a stronghold, a respite from the world that seems to be intent to destroy us. 

Rest in the Lord , and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret— it only causes harm. For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord , They shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while and the wicked shall  be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall  be no more. But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

Psalms 37:7‭-‬11 NKJV

Yes, we can find rest in the Lord.
Lord,

Settle our talked hearts, 

So that we might know peace. 

Settle our desires and our worries,

So that we might know contentment. 

Settle our concerns and bitterness over slights and wrongs, 

So that we might know forgiveness.

Settle our worries and doubts, 

So h that we might know they joy, 

Of trusting in the Lord.

You are faithful and true. 

Your way is always best. 

Amen.

Brotherly Love? Or self love? 

Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

Hebrews 13:1‭-‬6 ESV

Brotherly love. Hospitality. Love for those in prison and mistreated. Free from sexual immorality. Free from greed.
Aren’t these things in stall contrast to what the world would sell us as being the “American Dream”? I see plenty of “‘Muricans” ready to pick up their weapons and destroy others of flesh and blood that oppose them – but so few expecting prison, trials, persecution, and mistreatment by the world. 
Yes, ‘Muricans have blindly started following the blind – following a different gospel than the servant,  life sacrificed example of Christ that is the one and only truth, life, and way. They have traded it for a gospel of prosperity,  of positivity, of feel good motivational self help that encourages blending into the world’s idea of “love” instead of standing apart in true grattitude and belief and obedience because of His love which leads us into a life of righteousness and walking upright in His ways as a living example of Christ alive and at work in the world today. 
‘Muricans have been sold,  and yes, I do mean sold, because the charlatans happily take the money, silver, gold, and precious time in trade for promises that those people won’t have to live like Christ. These people have been sold promises that they don’t have to obey God. They have been sold promises that if they want things in this life hard enough for themselves they can have it. They have been sold promises that they don’t have to face persecution or trial or tribulation for being a Christian because their lives on this earth will end before they have a chance for that to happen. 
Are we so blind to see this is the enemy,  tempting you with a false gospel? 
Are we so blind to see the stark contrast of this to the life and example of Christ given to us in scripture? 
Yes, that other gospel sounds easy, and comfortable, and fits nicely with the selfish and carnal and wicked lifestyle of the desires of the flesh. But isn’t it at odds with how Christ taught us to love? Hasn’t the world even tried to turn love, that sacrificial dedication to something other than ourselves into being about our own feelings and urging and desires. 
What a deceiver. What a liar. The enemy comes to steal, kill,  and destroy by keeping us off that narrow path – and the enemy is doing quite well at that in the hands of so many religious people who don’t know how to love and so many lawless people who don’t know what love is. 

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

1 Corinthians 13:4‭-‬7 ESV

Love is not a “feeling”. Disney sells this lie daily and makes a fortune off of the world. 

Love is not “sex”. The porn industry sells this lie daily and makes a fortune off of the world. 

Love is not “religious practice”. The harlot church sells this lie weekly and makes a fortune off of the world. 

Love is not “saying something with our mouths but doing something else with our lives” – the enemy sells this lie to the world with a promise or religion in order to steal them away from a true, living relationship with Christ.

So I ask, do you know love? The kind of love that goes to the cross for others and that bids you to do the same? The kind of love that comes and abides and remains in your life and demonstrates itself as His Spirit alive in you even in the fave of trials, tribulations, and persecution? 

Or have you been sold something else? 

For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Galatians 5:17‭-‬26 ESV

The best testimonies aren’t words

​The heavens proclaim the glory of God. 

The skies display his craftsmanship. 

Day after day they continue to speak; 

night after night they make him known. 

They speak without a sound or word; 

their voice is never heard. 

Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, 

and their words to all the world. 

God has made a home in the heavens for the sun. 

It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding. 

It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race. 

The sun rises at one end of the heavens 

and follows its course to the other end. 

Nothing can hide from its heat.

Psalms 19:1‭-‬6 NLT

The world, God’s creation,  is an amazing testimony to His existence,  His wisdom,  His purpose. How could we believe that chaos and chance rule the creation of man, beast, plant and cosmos,  when order is evident everywhere? When beauty is seen constantly in the paintings in the skies at sunrise, sunset,  and throughout the day? When the progress of the seasons displays such a great canvas of ordered and cyclical beauty?

And this testimony is spoken workout a word. In fact, might I be so bold to say that the best testimonies aren’t given with words, but by example? 

Isn’t our own life example a better example of our love for Christ than just our words? Isn’t our life the confirmation of our heart’s desires and don’t our actions either agree and testify to our voiced beliefs – or prove us a liar and hypocrite? And either way,  isn’t it the actions that are proof of the truth? 

Yes, the most powerful and trustworthy testimonies are evidenced in the world around us – not just in our words. 

What will our lives today day about Christ? 

Will we teach the world to live lawless and in rebellion against God’s guidance and instruction? Will we teach the world to live as self righteous hypocrites judging and measuring others for the very faults that we should recognize in our own lives? 

Or will we teach the world about a righteous, just, merciful, and loving God that loved us when we were still His enemies and offered us forgiveness and life and healing and deliverance and sanctification? And that same free gift of grace is theirs to be had – not for a price, not through their own works, but through faith,  through belief in His testimony given at the cross and confirmed at the empty tomb. 

Yes,  His life is the greatest testimony and confirms His teaching. The living Word of the life of Jesus Christ confirms the perfection of the written Word of God – and He invites us to come and follow in His footsteps – He urges us to repent from our sinful ways and turn to God so that He might come to live in our lives and guide us in a life of example and testimony to the world.

Has HE come to live in your life today,  friend? Will the world know the truth of your testimony? Will the clear and evident fruit of His nature some through today even in the midst of your trials? 

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.

Galatians 5:22‭-‬26 NLT