Exhausted But Still In Pursuit

Are you exhausted? At times, we all feel worn out and whittled down. If, at those weary moments we continue to persevere, God promises to show Himself strong on our behalf. The Bible says, “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.” (2 Timothy 2:13, NKJV) He will not deny who He has created us to be. He will not deny what He has created us to do. In the Bible, Gideon’s band had been whittled down from 32,000 to 300. Judges 8:4 even says, “They were exhausted but still in pursuit.” (Holman Christian Standard Bible) Sounds like us at times, doesn’t it? We are exhausted but still in pursuit; struggling, but still believing. Why would we continue to carry on when we are at the end of our rope? Because we genuinely believe God has called us to prevail.

The Necessity of Failure

At times we all feel like failures. There was a season in my Christian life when I was so discouraged I had trouble getting out of bed. I came to realize, we must all fail in order to succeed. Joseph thought he could make his dream happen and it came to nothing. Moses attempted to liberate his people and it backfired. Paul, prior to his conversion, wanted to be holy but couldn’t. Peter said he would never deny the Lord but did just that, three times! The most important thing we can learn from failure is that, no matter how bleak it looks, we shouldn’t give up. The only time failure will disqualify us is when we refuse to admit we have fallen short. Thankfully, our God is one who understands that we’re all in process.

I Could Be That Person

One day I was driving down an impoverished inner city street and as I looked at the people I was passing by I thought, I could be that person! I could be that person! When our eyes are opened, we will each see how much we’ve been given. It’s been said, when you’re stuck in traffic, think of all the people who’d love to have a car. When you’re having a hard time with your spouse, think how many don’t know what it’s like to love and be loved in return. When you’re weekend’s over and you go back to work, think of the mother who has to work 12 hours a day, seven days a week, just to feed her children. When I view my life from this perspective, I’ve found that being grateful is the only appropriate response.

A Fresh Glimpse of God

People go wild over the possibility of winning the lottery. But what would you pay to live one more year, one hundred more years, a thousand, or a million? How about living forever? The Bible describes how those who are experiencing eternal life are pretty excited about it. In the Book of Revelation we see twenty-four elders who are continually before God. Over and over again they fall on their faces and worship Him, saying: “We give thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come…” (Revelation 11:16-17) Perhaps the only reason we’d ever think living forever might get boring is because we haven’t seen God. I’ve found, whenever I get a glimpse of the Creator of the Universe, He reveals Himself to me in a brand new way, and that’s never boring.

Aiming At The Wrong Target

He was one shot away from claiming victory in the 2004 Olympics 50-meter three-position rifle event. He didn’t need a bull’s eye to win, all he had to do was hit the target. But, to everyone’s amazement, Matt Emmons fired at the wrong target. His score for a good shot at the wrong target? Zero! Instead of a medal, he ended up in eighth place. In life, it doesn’t matter how accurate you are if you are aiming at the wrong goal. In the end, it’s worthless. The Bible says, “He who has the Son has life. He who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” So, my question is: What target are you aiming at? If it points to Jesus, then it leads to life, and no matter what things look like, the end result will be winning.

Bible’s Losers

Do you feel like a loser? You’re not alone. Most Bible characters felt like losers at one point. Adam had serious problems in his marriage and with his children. Noah preached 120 years but didn’t have one convert. Moses couldn’t speak well and even stuttered. Elijah battled depression and melted under pressure. Jonah refused to obey God. Peter had a bad temper and was even known to curse and behave like a loose cannon. Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebecca and Jacob had favorite children, which is a curse. But each of them had a destiny in God and fulfilled it. Sure, none of us are perfect. We all blow it. That’s why we each need a perfect Savior; someone who’s not fixated on what we’re not, but helping us become who we are created to be.

Numb From Hurt

Do you feel numb? This illustration will help you realize why. In our physical bodies, when muscles are stiff and un-pliable they gradually become unusable; it may have started when we got hurt. Damaged tissue restricts blood from flowing to muscles, and when there’s no flow of blood, we lack oxygen and our muscles begin to die. Perhaps your life is blocked by a bad habit? Often times, we become so consumed with our pain that we’re unable to focus on anything else. These constricted areas become stagnant ponds, breeding grounds for more pain and cesspools of heartache. It deforms our walk and twists how we stand. Our pain can keep us from getting the rest we so desperately need. What’s the cure? Let the life-giving blood of Jesus flow over your battered life, restoring whatever’s been damaged.

The Secret Life of Mothers

One of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen is not a place; it’s a person. At times she’s visible in public, but most often she remains hidden. I’m referring to the secret life of a mother. Working when no one else sees. Listening when no one else hears. Loving when no one else cares. Present, when no one else is around. Once you catch sight of a mother’s secret life, it’s unforgettable. Once it touches you, you will cherish it forever. Mothers give us a peek into the heart of God: invisible but present, unseen but known, happy to give in secret. Forever looking for opportunities to shower those she loves with kindness and understanding. I thank God for mothers. Is there a better glimpse into the God who is love? I think not!

Destiny

Do you believe God has a marvelous destiny for you? I’m convinced He does, and it’s better than you could ever imagine. Noah Webster’s definition of “destiny” is really quite perfect: “…a predetermined state; a condition foreordained by the Divine will.” When you look closely, everything about this definition speaks of obedience. Since it takes God to destine, it stands to reason only God can predestine or predetermine, and likewise to foreordain. The only destiny that is real is God’s will, and the only way you get God’s will is by being obedient to Him. The Bible says, “…(God) will do for me all He has planned. He controls my destiny.” (Job 23:14, NLT) The doorway to God’s destiny for your life is trust and obedience. Trust that God will lead you, and obey whatever He says to do. I have found, He never fails.

God’s Timing

A man went for a walk and began to talk to God. He asked God if it was true that “1,000 years was like one minute to Him.” God said, “Yes, that’s true.” The man then said, “Then maybe it’s also true that what is a million dollars to us is only a penny to You.” God again replied, “Yes, that’s certainly true.” At this point the man became a little greedy and said, “Well, Lord, how about giving me one of those pennies?” God said, “Absolutely! I can’t give it to you right now, but if you wait a minute I’ll give it to you.” It’s pretty funny, but let me leave you with this thought: God wants to bless us, but are we more attached to our timeframe for receiving His blessing then we are to Him?

How We Look At Life

When a man came home every night from work his wife consistently told him about that day’s calamities. One night when he got home he said to her, “Sweetheart, before you tell me everything that’s gone wrong today, can I at least sit down and enjoy my dinner?” The next day, as soon as he came through the door, his wife said to him, “Honey, hurry up and eat, I have something terrible to tell you.” It’s a funny story, but it also demonstrates how some of us look at life: a disaster waiting to happen, or an opportunity waiting to blossom. The Bible says, “…whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8, ESV)

Denial

Do you think less of someone who acknowledges that they’ve blown it, or more. Does humility diminish us, or elevate us? Paul the Apostle acknowledged what God knew was true. He said, “I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man…” (1 Timothy 1:13a, NIV) He even went so far as to say he was the chief of sinners. (1 Timothy 1:15) But then he mentions God’s response to this confession; but “I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.” (1 Timothy 1:13b, NIV) Paul got it! He understood what he did wrong. Sadly, most of us are in denial. We all tend to minimize our sins. If I think I’m really not that bad, I’m in denial, and I’ve never really seen my life from God’s perspective. We all need a Savior, and thankfully, Jesus is ready and willing to save a repentant heart.

Being Broken

Are you living in the past, dwelling on what was, or accepting what is? Are you longing for a time that no longer exists, or are you learning to face and embrace a reality that does? Jesus wants to heal our yesterdays so that we can embrace today and look forward to tomorrow. Will you let Him? Will you melt in His arms and receive His love and healing? I’ve found the only way He can put my life back together is if I’m willing to break…to break free from my anger, my discouragement, and my fear. The Bible says, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17, ESV) God is waiting to heal you on the other side of a broken and desperate prayer.

100% Answered Prayers

Do you feel like your prayers aren’t being answered? What percentage of prayers initiated by God are answered? 100%! What percentage of prayers initiated by me are answered? None. Hmm? Sounds like there’s a pattern here. The Bible promises, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” (1 John 5:14-15, NIV) God has already figured out what is best for every part of your life. Trust Him! Stop asking God to do things that are in your heart, and start asking Him to do what’s on His heart. It’s the only guaranteed way to get all of your prayers answered.

Things That Never Happen

An old man was asked what had robbed him most of his joy in his lifetime. He responded, “Things that never happened!” It’s been said that 99% of the things we worry about never take place. What’s your strategy for living? Most people say being “happy and healthy” is their greatest desire in life. So here are three strategies for a healthy life: Don’t worry: God loves you unconditionally (John 13:1). Don’t give up: God will never abandon you (Psalm 139:10), and don’t fear: God will be with you until the end (Revelation 1:17). That’s how God wants us to live. The Bible says, “His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him” (2 Peter 1:3b, NKJV). God has given us everything we need for life and godliness, and how we live shows whom we are trusting in.

How To Live

Jesus is the perfect Person to study if you want to know how to live. When the disciples were filled with dread, Jesus was already dead to Himself. When they were overwhelmed with fear, Jesus was overflowing with faith. Whatever fills us, will either seduce us or satisfy us. Whatever overwhelms us, will either wash us or worry us. Jesus said, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (Matthew 6:33. NLT) We each take on the attributes of whatever we focus on. If I’m seeking God’s Kingdom and not trying to build my own little empire, then my life will be filled with the fruit of God’s Kingdom which is His love, His joy and His peace.

What Do You Want Jesus To Do?

When a blind man named Bartimaeus was yelling, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Some of those around him said, “Be quiet!” But Jesus said, “Come here! What do you want me to do for you?” (Mark 10:46-52) This could be a funny question to ask a blind man. “Who me? Oh, I’ve always wanted to be rich and famous!” But it was a real question. What we ask for is an indication of what’s most important to us! If the first person you want to see is Jesus, He will heal your sight. If the first person you want to follow is Jesus, He’ll give you a fresh start. The question is what do you want? Where is your faith? That’s where God wants to meet you today. And it is there you will receive what you need if you had every option.

Global Persecution

Have you noticed an increase in the amount of persecution of Christians? Jesus predicted it. He said, “…everyone will hate you because of your allegiance to me. But those who endure to the end will be saved.” (Mark 13:13) If you came from a strict Muslim or Hindu family, you might be rejected by your family and martyred for choosing Jesus. In China, if your church isn’t a state-sponsored church it might be closed down like one of the 1,500 churches destroyed or shut down since November of 2000. It has been estimated that 45 million Christians have been killed for their faith since the Day of Pentecost. Paul the Apostle wrote, “Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. (Hebrews 13:3, NIV)

Why Is Jesus Coming To You?

When Jesus made His triumphant entrance into Jerusalem, it was only a week before His crucifixion. His disciples thought He was going there to rule and reign on Earth. He was actually going to Jerusalem to die, in order to reign in Heaven. Frankly, none of us have any idea what Jesus is coming to do in our lives. He was coming to Jerusalem looking for a fight, not for fans. He said, “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” (Matthew 10:34, NIV) A lot of us want God to bring peace to our lives. He will, and that’s a promise, but first He has to bring a sword; to cut away what is dead. The resurrection can’t come before the crucifixion.

Facing Our Mountains

Are you facing a mountain in your life, something bigger than you can handle? We all are! Jesus said, “Have faith in God…whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.’” (Mark 11:22-23, ESV) That expression, “Have faith in God” in the original language, means “Have God’s faith!” Have God’s faith to overcome insurmountable problems. Jesus was saying, “As we believe, God can overcome any obstacle.” It was not a promise to the multitudes, but to His disciples. It was a commitment to those who were committed to Him. If you are committed to Jesus, never ever doubt that He is committed to you.

Forgive First When You Pray

What’s the first thing we should do when we pray? Jesus said, “…when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.” (Mark 11:25, NLT) Jesus was saying the greatest obstacle to getting your prayers answered is unforgiveness. Our forgiving others opens the door for God to forgive us. The hardness in our hearts shuts him out. If we have stubborn, unforgiving hearts, it calls into question if we have ever received or appreciated God’s forgiveness. Forgiveness; deep down it’s what we all know we need. It’s why Jesus came, and when we receive it, we’ll want to give it to others. I am so grateful God has forgiven me that I want to live my life forgiving others.

Questioning God

Are you questioning God? I’ve found if have a question for Him it often means He first had a question for me. At one point leaders asked Jesus by whose authority did He drive the merchants out of the temple? He answered their question with His own question, “Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human?” (Matthew 21:25, NLT) Because these leaders refused to answer His question He wouldn’t answer theirs either. Jesus wasn’t trying to trap them. He was trying to transform them. Never doubt God is for you, and that He demonstrates His love and commitment by focusing on our greatest need. It’s always difficult to face the truth, but it’s the only path with a good future. Today, if you want God to answer your questions, accept what he is trying to reveal to you.

Your Comeback

Are you feeling down? God knows what that’s like. No one has ever been more down than Jesus. He suffered more than anyone who ever lived. Jesus was brutalized in front of His mother, smothered with the sins of the world and dying for each one of them. Jesus knows what it’s like to be down, but not out. He was tempted in every area we have been, but never gave in to sin. He’s the God of the comeback, and if you’ll let Him, He’ll champion your comeback as well. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.” (Hebrews 4:15, NIV)

Dismantled To Get Gold

Do you feel like your life is being dismantled; pulled apart and in pieces? It might surprise you that the end result will be golden. The temple in Jerusalem was covered on the outside with gold plates that were so brilliant when the sun shone on them it was blinding. Jesus predicted its destruction. Forty years later, Jerusalem was leveled, including the Temple, which was set on fire. The gold then melted between the cracks of the large stones  It had to be dismantled in order for the Romans to get to it. I find this sequence surprising similar to what takes place in us. The fires of adversity ultimately allow the gold in our lives to recede to a place where Christ can only recover it through careful deconstruction. If you allow Him to do this delicate work, you will find there is treasure inside.

Live Ready To Face God

A catalyst for the Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther was asked, “If Jesus was coming back tomorrow, what would you do?” He replied, “I’d plant a tree.” This speaks to our need to be about our heavenly Father’s business all the days of our lives. Jesus said, “Occupy till I come.” (Luke 19:13, KJV) Similarly, the great evangelist D.L. Moody was asked, “If Jesus was going to come back in five minutes, what would you do?” He said, “I’d finish my steak.” Moody wasn’t being brash, he was making an important point. Whatever we are doing should be appropriate, and God’s will, in the event Jesus comes for us, or we die and are taken to Him. Though we all fail, “living ready to face God” must be the goal for each of our lives in every moment.

Great Comebacks 

Everyone battles with a deep sense of failure. It’s the horrible affect of sin in general, and specifically when we remember lapses of judgment at different points in our lives. We are each hoping for a great comeback, and that’s where God comes in. He’s the God of the great comeback! He continually draws and calls us to return to who He created us to be: to be conformed to His image and not to this world’s reflection, which lasts for a few moments. Great comebacks always require great courage, and there is no One cheering louder for you than Jesus. “We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all-all but the sin.” (Hebrews 4:15, The Message) The next time you’re facing failure, remember the God who believes in you.

Life Is A Test

Everything in life is a test. Every response, every challenge and every opportunity! From setbacks to successes, the moment we stop depending on Jesus we become susceptible to deception. Accept nothing at face value. “…for we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7, ESV) I’m not moved by what I see. I want to allow the inner witness of God’s Spirit to guide me. Every decision we make tests our motives, and in the end we will be judged by the thoughts and intents of our heart. The Bible says, “But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.” (Jeremiah 17:10, NLT) Jesus, guide me through the treacherous waters of testing. You are able to protect me from great errors in judgment. I trust in You alone!

Completing the Mission

I once saw a statement on the back of a t-shirt that said, “Cowards Never Start! The Weak Never Finish! Winners Never Quit!” It provoked me to think. I want to start, and I want to finish! I want to win, and I believe God created me to be courageous and not a coward. I’m not destined to be a weakling, and I’m not called to quit. By His grace I will finish. By His mercy I will finish well. By His kindness I will complete the mission I have been given; The assignment prepared for me from the foundation of the world. If you can receive it and believe it, this is God’s destiny for your life as well. The Bible says, “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life.” (2 Peter 1:3a, NLT)

Changing Your Boundaries

In the Old Testament, we read that Ancient Assyria conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Their method of overpowering a city was called “The Siege.” The Assyrians would surround a city and choke the life out of it by changing the cities boundaries. That’s exactly what’s happened to America. Only we’ve changed our own boundaries. We’ve changed the boundaries of right and wrong, of truth and lies. We’ve changed moral boundaries, destroying innocence, embracing impurity, and loving evil. We’ve changed the boundaries for marriage. We’ve changed the boundaries of what is real and what is unreal. We have become experts in “The Siege.” Have you changed your boundaries? May you return to the safety of the protective, healthy boundaries found first and foremost in the Word of God, the Bible.

Created To Be a Victor

All of us have been shell-shocked by life! We’ve all been disappointed by the ground shaking underneath us. Consequently, we are each at some point a refugee, refugees from a fallen planet, a broken world. We all need to be rescued.  But will we stay refugees, or will we become rescuers? I have been rescued. I am being rescued, and I will continue to be rescued…but I want to be a rescuer. I’ve been a patient, but I want to live as a doctor. I am not a victim. I am created to be a victor. There was a time in my Christian life where I struggled getting out of bed. Now, I abound out of bed every morning in the dark to walk in the light. Who we are trusting in will determine how we process life. Trust Jesus!

Bribing God

Never think you have to bribe God to pay attention to you. We don’t have to inspire Him. He was inspired about us before we were created. That’s why He created us. We had Him before we said, “Hello!” He created us to be the love of His life…the bride of His dreams. An intimate life with God is not a bribe to get Him to pay attention to us. We have His full attention. He’s already completely fascinated with who we are. We know this is true because that’s the way we feel about our own children and grandchildren. God couldn’t love you any more than He already does because He started loving you at “peak love,” with an “everlasting love,” (Jeremiah 31:3) and nothing you could ever do can change that.

Being Attractive

There’s a battle going on in each of our hearts. It’s between godly longings and carnal cravings. Unless we know we are attractive, even beautiful on the inside, we’ll never be attractive enough on the outside. We all long to be attractive, desired, and admired. You could say, we all want to be “cool.” That’s why our youth culture is so steeped in sarcasm and cynicism, putting other people down. It’s a direct result of how un-attractive and un-cool we really feel. We think, “If I can’t measure up, then no one else will either.” But until we see the beauty of God, we won’t be able to see ourselves as eternally attractive, desired and admired. Unless we know God is beautiful, we’ll never know we are beautiful…especially to Him.

Eternal Pleasures

Are you fulfilled? The enemy of our soul has always been counterfeit fulfillment. Most people expend huge amounts of time, energy, and money staying current on the temporary, illusive pleasures of life, while missing out on the tangible, eternal pleasures of God in the process. God has the answer for every inferior pleasure. As a matter of fact, God is the answer! Knowing the God who created pleasure is the only way to experience the real thing, and not the counterfeit. Accept no substitutes for a genuine, life-long relationship with your Creator. It’s the only way to a guilt-free, pleasure-filled life. The Bible says, “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11, NKJV)

Struggled Getting Out Of Bed

There was a time in my Christian life when I struggled getting out of bed. It’s embarrassing to say it, but true nonetheless. My perspective about God and my life were in need of a complete overhaul. I thought I needed my circumstances to change before I could feel good about my life. The truth was I needed to trust that God had my life in His hands and that He would make all things work for my good if I loved Him and was committed to His will more than my will. Once I began to trust that God as a loving Father would never allow my life to be unfruitful, it changed my entire perspective. Now, I abound out of bed every morning in the dark to walk in the light! I love my life because I believe God loves my life.

Beauty For Ashes

Do you feel like your life is in ashes? God knows, and He can help. The Bible says God has given us “beauty for ashes…” (Isaiah 61:1, 3) WOW! Beauty for ashes! In most cases, ashes are good for absolutely nothing. Our spiritual ashes are the result of burning our passions on wrong things. We can look at our own ash heap and wonder, “Why would anyone want this?” No one wants ashes. That is, no one except God. He trades them for His beauty. It’s part of His heavenly recycling plan: His beauty for our ashes. God wants to answer our desire for beauty now, in this life, not just in eternity. What we look like to God is infinitely more important than what we look like to us. Never forget that He sees you as beautiful.

Inner Beauty

So much of today’s advertising can make us dissatisfied with how we look, what we have, and ultimately, who we are. We spend our time, energy and money fixing things about ourselves that we consider less than attractive. A beautiful God created us in such a way that we long to feel beautiful, but unless we see God’s heart for us, we’ll eventually see ourselves as ugly. Fortunately, when the Holy Spirit shows us what God is like and we see what we look like to God, something settles in our hearts, minds and emotions. That’s why the Bible says, “Do not let your adornment be merely outward…rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.” (1 Peter 3:3-4)

Where Is Jesus Going With Us?

Do you ever hear someone speak and wonder, “Where is he going with this?” The disciples had that exact same thought about Jesus as He was about to leave them to be crucified. Jesus said, “…none of you asks me, where are you going? But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage…” Their hearts were so filled with sorrow over what was about to happen they had lost sight of exactly where Jesus was going with the events that were taking place. Do we really want to know what God has in mind, or are we more committed to obsessing over the sorrow we don’t understand. When we see where God is taking us, we will always realize it is for our good.

The God of Extremes

C. S. Lewis wrote, “The most striking thing about our Lord is the union of great ferocity with extreme tenderness.” (From The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, Volume III) The Bible says, “Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God…” (Romans 11:22a, NIV) Lewis then quotes a great philosopher, ‘I do not admire the extreme of one virtue unless you show me at the same time the extreme of the opposite virtue. One shows one’s greatness not by being at an extremity but by being simultaneously at two extremities and filling all the space between.’” If God is simultaneously embracing two extremes, so should I. I can be at peace and yet be warring. I can trust God and yet not know where He’s taking me. By embracing the extremes of God I give Him greater latitude in my life to be who He really is.

Boredom Is Self-Inflicted

Boredom is a self-inflicted wound. The God who designs galaxies and hand-crafts every molecule is never bored, so how could obeying His will lead to boredom? Impossible! Boredom comes from venturing away from God’s script into Earth’s shallow substitutes that cost nothing—leaving us empty and unfulfilled. Life’s greatest adventures have each been divinely shaped into one-of-a-kind destinies that require two faith dimensions to be experienced: Trust and Courage. The moment we question the brilliance of God’s will in our lives we begin to unravel it’s full potential. But when we believe in His ability to give us His best, and then boldly pursue His plan for us, we enter into the sweet spot of life’s greatest joy: it is to know God and to experience life from His sublime perspective.

Two Kinds of Faith

We each need two kinds of faith: “Right Now Faith” and “Not Yet Faith.” “Right Now Faith” steps up when there seems to be no steps. We walk in faith even though we don’t fully know where we are going. The Bible says, “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.” (Hebrews 11:8, ESV) Thinking we know where God is leading us is mere presumption. Trusting He knows requires the most faith. “Not Yet Faith” means patiently waiting and peacefully resting, fully confident that God will contact us with new instructions at the first and best opportunity. If we desperately want God’s will more than anything else, it is impossible to miss it.

God, the Original, Original

God is the original, original! Everything He’s ever done has been trail blazed—a whole new beginning, a completely fresh start. So, we shouldn’t be surprised when He asks us to step into the unknown. When we find false comfort in the familiar we ultimately feel short-changed, deprived of the unexpected, missing the wonderful surprises of God. That’s why fear is the most prevalent seduction. The devil wants to consign us to the same boring reality he faces. Having rejected God’s first and best all he has left is the monotonous consequence of a unbelieving life. God, on the other hand, is creating something unprecedented for you today. Fully surrender to His will and you’ll never be bored again. “Jesus, take me somewhere I’ve never been!”

God’s Mercy

When Jesus cursed the fig tree in Mark 11, it was an example of God’s mercy. The tree was a picture of “false advertising,” having leaves, but no figs. It wasn’t normal or healthy. That type of fig tree didn’t usually have leaves without also having figs. The tree was cursed because it professed to have fruit, but did not. The tree was “living a lie.” We can’t know the truth if we live a lie. We will each be judged for the fruit in our lives not for our leaves. In all of the works in the ministry of Jesus, this is the only “destructive” miracle. Jesus here most perfectly shows us the nature of God. He is willing to kill “counterfeit life” in us in order to keep us from killing our future. The question is, “Are we?”

Roots That Bear Fruit

Right after Jesus cursed the fig tree that had leaves but no fruit He went into the temple and overturned the tables of the money exchangers. Every Jewish male had to pay a yearly temple tax. An amount equaling about two days pay. It had to be paid in the currency of the Temple, and the money exchangers would charge outrageous rates. They did all this in the outer courts of the Temple, the only area where Gentiles could come and pray. Therefore, this place of prayer was made into a swap meet for thieves. Are you willing to let Jesus turn over the hypocritical parts of your heart? The priests in the Temple had leaves, but no fruit. They were thieves with leaves but their root had no fruit. “Jesus, let our roots go deep into You, that we may bear fruit that lasts forever.”

God-Sized Faith

Our commitment to God is always a demonstration of our faith. When Jesus said, “Have faith in God…” that you may see mountains move, it meant in the original language, “Have God’s faith!” (Mark 11:22-23) Mountains symbolize insurmountable problems that only God can move. Jesus was saying, “As we believe, God can overcome any obstacle.” We must remember that Jesus was promising this to His disciples, not the multitudes. It was a commitment to those who were committed to Him. In life “we reap what we sow.” “No deposit” means, “No return on our investment.” God-sized mountains require God-sized faith and God-sized commitment! So we must never forget He is freely offering this kind of faith to each of us, every moment of every day. Having God’s faith always brings God’s victory.

The Forgiven Heart

It’s been said, “There is no revenge so sweet as forgiveness.” (American Humorist, Josh Billings) Our forgiving others opens the door for God to forgive us. The hardness in our heart shuts God out. If we have hard, unforgiving hearts, it calls into question if we have ever received or appreciated God’s forgiveness. The forgiven heart longs to forgive others. The forgiven heart relinquishes its right to punish others. The forgiven heart will no longer hold that person responsible for what they did. Jesus said, “…when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.” (Mark 11:25) “Jesus, I forgive those who have hurt me. I release them from all responsibility. Even now I fully receive your forgiveness for me.”

As a Man Thinks

Proverbs says, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7) This verse speaks to each of us as the gatekeepers of our thoughts. I may not be able to stop a bird from flying over my head, but I can keep it from making a nest in my hair. The New Testament adds, “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians10:4-5, NIV) The thoughts I allow to permeate my mind shape my true inner person. Therefore, I must wash my thoughts with God’s Word and put on the mind of Christ, for who I am in private is who I am.

The Best Season of Your Life

How do you know you are trusting God? When the best season of your life is the one you’re presently in. Not because of circumstances, but because of your perspective. Every meal God serves us should be a Thanksgiving Dinner. Every irritation is an invitation to go to the next level. It’s God’s perfect invitation to go deeper into trusting Him. Irritations are divine opportunities, not stumbling blocks or roadblocks. If we obsess over the pain and displeasure inherently associated with the struggles of life, we will miss the entire point. The real enemy is never the things happening around us, it is our poor response. By the grace of God, we each have a complete capacity to respond well. There are no setbacks in God, only veiled doorways to our destiny.

My Identity

Do you feel like a failure? All of us will, at times, see ourselves in this way. But there’s an absolute cure: and that’s knowing the One who died to make us a success—not in the eyes of the world, nor even in our own eyes, but in His eyes—the eyes of the only Person who knows what’s best for us. I choose to see my life from God’s perspective—the finished product, the person He intended me to be. Our identity can be either shaped by our earthly failure, or by our Heavenly Father. I choose to believe God’s truth about me. He says, “…I know the thoughts that I think toward you…thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11, NKJV) There’s no one who’s more excited about your future than God.

Shame

One of the darkest clouds covering the lives of many Christ-followers is a “Cloud of Shame.” Shame says, “You’re feeling bad, because you’re inherently bad.” Whereas guilt says, “You’ve done something wrong but if you respond well it will lead to freedom and victory.” Shame leads to bondage and death. Responding properly to guilt leads to deliverance and life. Guilt can last a moment if we repent and ask Jesus to forgive our sin. Shame can sadly last a lifetime if we choose to believe the devil’s lies about who we are. I choose to believe the only truth that will set me free—God’s truth. His Word says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, ESV)

Knowing God’s Word

The devil will always question what God has said to you. Therefore, you have to know what God really said. The Bible is not a good luck charm I put on a coffee table, it’s a breathing machine I hold fast to my face! Job said, “I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.” (Job 23:12, NKJV) I have no chance of being a naturally healthy person without eating good food. Likewise, I have no hope of being a supernaturally healthy person without feasting on the Bread of Life: the Bible. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35, NLT) Hunger and thirst after God’s Word every day and you’ll live a filled and fulfilled life.

God Wants To Be With Us

Would you believe me if I told you that God wants you to be in Heaven far more then you do; and that He wants to forgive you infinitely more than you want to be forgiven. So, what is one of the greatest hindrances to us believing that God is this captivated and committed to not only forgiving us but also wanting to be with us, now and forever? I believe our fixation on our own imperfection becomes a constant distraction from focusing on His perfect love for us. The key to being successful in God is not working harder; it’s resting more fully in His love and acceptance. “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3, ESV) Trust in God’s love for you and you will never feel like a failure.

 God’s Heart For You

One of the best descriptions of God the Father’s heart for us is found in the lowest moment of King David’s life. He’s just committed adultery with the wife of one of his most loyal subjects…Uriah. Uriah is then sent to die in an unnecessary battle. Nathan the prophet comes to tell David what God really thinks of him. You’d think God was about to reject David. Instead, God mentions all of the wonderful things He’s done for David and finishes with “…if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more!” (2 Samuel 12:8) Here’s God: no regret, no venom, no saying, “You’re a loser!” All God can say is, “If you had needed more…more of anything, I would have given it to you.” It’s the heart of a loving, caring Father! It’s the same heart God has for you.

Help My Unbelief

God can work with “no belief”, but He can’t do much with “unbelief!” When Jesus went to minister in His hometown, the Bible says, “And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any mighty miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them.” (Mark 6:5) Faith is a room lifter! Unbelief is a room killer! For Jesus, healing a few sick people is “no big deal.” “No belief” doesn’t amaze Him, but unbelief does. The next verse says, “He was amazed at their unbelief.” (Mark 6:6) Would to God we were all amazed at our unbelief! After all God has done for each of us, our unbelief shouldn’t just amaze us, it should break our heart, and make us cry out like the man whose son was demonized, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24, ESV)

Is God Holding Out On You?

No one is more excited about wanting to be with us than God. So what keeps us from wanting to be with Him? The same thing that made Adam and Eve hide! After doing what they knew was wrong they hid in shame. Until that time they loved coming into God’s presence. Sin changed all that. The devil deceived them into believing that God really didn’t have their best interest in mind and that He was holding out on them. This is the first and biggest lie of all time. The devil said, “God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:5, ESV) The truth is God has never held back anything from us that would work for our good and bring about His perfect will for our lives.

Despising Shame

Playwright David Mamet writes, “…most people lost in the wilds…die of shame… ‘What did I do wrong? How could I have gotten myself into this?’ And so they sit there and they…die. Because they didn’t do the one thing that would save their lives.” The Bible says we are all lost, but we don’t have to die of shame if we look “…to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2) He despised the shame of becoming sin for us because He knew it would lead to rescuing all humanity who would turn from sin to Him. The greatest shame is: not wholeheartedly believing this marvelous truth.

Grace is Free, But Not Cheap

There is no more marvelous word in the Christian faith than: “Grace.” It’s what Jesus provided for us when He died in our place. Grace is God’s unmerited favor. It is kindness from God we don’t deserve. There is nothing we have done, nor can ever do to earn this favor. It is a gift from God. Grace is divine assistance given to humans for our rebirth, and sanctification—a virtue coming from God alone. It’s our “Get Out of Hell For Free” card, but it didn’t come cheap. It cost Jesus His life! The Bible says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV) Jesus, I receive Your grace today!”

Receiving God’s Grace

Can you imagine being given an amazing present and never opening it? Sadly, it happens every day in the lives of most people. The Bible says, “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled…” Who wants to flunk being forgiven? Who wants to fail to obtain the grace of God? Who wants to walk around bitter, like a plague looking for a place to happen? I don’t want to have a chip on my shoulder that will eventually make me act like a chump. One of the most important disciplines you’ll need to learn in life is receiving the grace to be forgiven, to forgive yourself, and to learn to forgive others as well.

Accepting Outcasts

Do you feel like an outcast? Jesus wants to embrace you and make you know how accepted you are. There was a woman in the Bible who was chronically bleeding for twelve years. (Mark 5:24-25) But she was desperate. According to the Jewish custom if she touched anyone, they became unclean as well. The law said she could be divorced by her husband, she couldn’t live in her home or make contact with friends, and was excommunicated from the synagogue. She had spent everything she had to pay doctors, but only got worse. (Mark 5:26) But when she touched Jesus, all of this changed! Have you spent far too much time and money on the doctors of entertainment, pleasure and success only to remain sick in your soul, or are you courageous enough to touch Jesus and get healed?

Fig Leaves

When Adam and Eve did the one thing God the Father asked them not to do: eat the fruit of the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, “At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.” (Genesis 3:7, NLT) Disobeying God always leads to shame and a feeling of being uncovered, empty, and vulnerable. And every attempt to eliminate this feeling, whether it be through entertainment, drugs, alcohol, philosophy, sensual pleasure, or denial is just fig leaves, and will never remove this sense of shame. Only receiving forgiveness can do that. And that only comes by returning to the One we originally disobeyed and letting the blood His Son wash us clean.

Fully Trusting God

Why do I question God? When am I going to fully trust Him—on my deathbed? The second saddest thing I can think of is finally realizing on the last day of my life that God was fully trustworthy and always had my best interest in mind. The only thing sadder is never realizing it…never fully trusting God. I’m absolutely convinced that when I stand before God I’ll at last see there were an infinite number of things I could have believed about Him while I was on Earth that I just didn’t. First and foremost, I could have believed that every situation I ever found myself in was ultimately designed for my good. But I don’t have to wait for my final day, I’m standing before Him right now. “God, I trust You!”

My Sin Problem

The longer I live and follow Jesus, the more I realize that my sin problem is far more serious then I’m capable of understanding. Like Paul the Apostle, because I know my sin best, I know deep down, I am the chief of sinners! My sin is ever before me. But the astoundingly good news is, God’s solution for my serious sin problem is far more glorious than I could ever imagine. Though I can obsess over what I’m not, I can likewise focus my attention on who God is and who He created me to be. One perspective keeps me looking backward at where I’ve failed and the other inspires me to look forward toward a loving Father who’s always wanted me to succeed. I like my Heavenly Father’s perspective best!

God is the Great Initiator

Our prayers never initiate God moving in our lives or in those around us. NEVER! It is His heart that awakens us out of our sleep and His Spirit that compels us to pray. We are never the initiator! We only have a faint interest in prayer because He has persistently been shaking us out of a deep sleep. God is always the author and finisher of everything that is eternal, everything that is good, and all-powerful prayers that shake Heaven and transform Earth. What God begins, He always finishes! The gifts that we each have been given are far more than any of us have asked for or could have imagined. “God, awaken me from my slumber, what would you have me pray?”

Authority To Succeed

Our authority on Earth is never based on our successes. None of us have the credentials to complete the mission God’s planned for us. Therefore, our success or failure will not be because we pulled it off. It will be based on how we respond to our lot in life. Only God knows the way for us to be successful. All attempts to succeed in our strength will fail. But all efforts to obey God will, from His perspective, succeed. Why? Because that’s when He pours out His grace and power: when we fail and look to Him. He is the great difference-maker, a gracious Father who wants us to succeed in Him infinitely more than we do. “God, You have given me authority to succeed as I do Your will!”

Going Forward, Not Back

All of us want to live victorious lives, but frankly, no one wants this more for you than God. If we really believe our Heavenly Father always desires what’s best for us and if we believe the promises in His Word, then we know that He wants our lives to be victorious. But there is one pattern that has been most prevalent in keeping people from receiving all God has for them. It’s the same tendency that kept the Israelites from going in to conquer their Promised Land, and it’s trying to seduce us right now. At some point in your journey you will think that going back to Egypt, the world, is better than the wilderness you are wandering in. It’s a tragic mistake! Better than both options is going forward into God’s Promised Land for you.

The Names of God

The Hebrew names of God give us perhaps the clearest glimpse into who He really is. You will notice that there are no names for God that go against His true nature such as Jehovah Santa’s meaning, “You are the one who will give me whatever I wish for,” or Jehovah Scrooge, “I wish to be left alone. Life is a humbug!” Consider these genuine names of God and their meaning put forth in God’s Word: El Shaddai, the Lord is God Almighty; Adonai, You are Lord and Master; Jehovah Rapha, You are the Lord Who Heals; Jehovah Shammah, You are the Lord Who Is There; Jehovah Jireh, You are the Lord Who Will Provide; Jehovah Shalom, You are the Lord our Peace. The Bible says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13, NIV)

Obeying God

Obeying God is not an overbearing “Have To!” It is a liberating “Get To!” A misconception of God’s heart will cause us to obey out of performance, trying to please Him—leading only to a religious obligation. A proper understanding of God’s heart will draw us into an intimate relationship with our Creator and an obedient, fulfilled life, knowing He is already “head-over-heals” in love with us, and there is nothing I can ever do to get God to love me more. He is doing everything He can to bring us closer to Him. I don’t bless my wife Suzie because I want her to love me. I bless her because I am madly in love with her! We must never forget we can only love Him because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19)

Gathering The Fragments 

All of us will at times feel fractured and fragmented. So broken we wonder if our hearts and lives can ever be repaired and made whole. But once we understand God’s heart, we realize that He will never discard us, but instead will gather us to Himself. After Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes, He said to pick up all of the fragments, the broken pieces, because they were important and not to be discarded. The Bible says, “And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, ‘Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.’” (John 6:12, ESV) That nothing may be lost! WOW! That comforts me, as I often feel lost. But He is my compass…my rescuer! He is the lover of my soul, who promises to never leave me or forsake me.

Love of Money

In his book, Perelandra, C. S. Lewis, speaks of the ‘love of money as the root of all evil,” an “…itch to have things over again, as if life were a film that could be unrolled twice…” Was this the root of all evil, craving the false comfort of repetition, rather than the creative unknown, birthed in the heart of a safe and all-wise God? Lewis suggests that the chief reason people love money is “…a defense against chance, a security for being able to have things over again, a means of arresting the unrolling of the film.” This begs the question, is our pursuit of money and things at times an attempt to restrain our Creator from initiating something brand new and fresh in our lives? And is this done because we really don’t trust Him?

Offended With God

Are you offended at God? The truth is: God has done nothing to hurt you! Our disappointment with God comes from a false expectation—that He did not do what we thought or imagined He was going to do, or should do, for us. Unmet expectations can lead to disappointments. Being offended was Adam’s original sin—an offense at trusting God. The Bible says, “…as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.” (Romans 5:18, NKJV) God’s love and mercy can set us free from any offense! All we have to do is humble ourselves to receive it.

Boundaries Bring Fruit

Are you stressed out? It might be because you don’t have clear boundaries in your life? Paul the Apostle wrote, “We will not boast about things done outside our area of authority. We will boast only about what has happened within the boundaries of the work God has given us…” (2 Corinthians 10:13, NLT) The word for boundaries here is the Greek word: ‘metron.’ Paul is talking about the ‘metron,’ the sphere of influence that the Lord gave him. It implies “a field to plow in.” What is our business, and what is none of our business. God gives each of us a field to plow, and if we remain within it, He’ll provide all the resources needed to produce fruit that lasts. Find God’s boundaries and you’ll reap a harvest that lasts.

Comforting or Callous

All of us are probably busier than we’ve ever been; and that can cause us to feel overwhelmed by the needs around us. When Jesus was surrounded by crowds of needy people the Bible says, “…He had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd.” (Mark 6:34) When we see people’s needs, are we compassionate or cold? Are we comforting toward others or callous toward their needs? Unless we first let Jesus heal our hearts, we’ll become hardened by life. I want to be a softhearted, tender man! I want my heart to be so filled with compassion that when I feel overwhelmed by the needs around me, I let Jesus take me deeper into His compassionate heart. “Jesus, give me Your heart for this hurting world.”

Unforced Errors

LeBron James, one of the greatest basketball players of all time, was asked what was the number one thing he did after every game. He said the first thing he does is check the number of turnovers his entire team committed and the second is the number of turnovers he personally committed. In baseball, mistakes are called errors; in football they’re known as fumbles; and in tennis they’re unforced errors. These are what champions focus on first in order to grow, succeed and win. Similarly, King David prayed, “God, keep me from presumptuous sin.” Though we shouldn’t fixate primarily on our mistakes, we need to ask God for wisdom and discernment to protect us from unforced errors that are unnecessary and will cost us dearly.

Doing the Impossible

Many times those who do the impossible don’t premeditate doing so. Perhaps it was just a vision or conviction that required everything of them and necessitated stepping out in faith in a supernatural way. They met God on their journey and He became the difference-maker. When God does the impossible it blasts us out of our unbelieving stupor into an eternal realm that will last infinitely longer than our brief time on Earth. It reminds me of Francis of Assisi, who started out a loser and ended up a legend, leading a movement of radical followers of Jesus. He said, “Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” His statement reminds me of the faith-filled words of Jesus who challenged all of us, “…with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26 b, NIV)

Something Out of Nothing

I’m a recovering atheist. I spent seven years adamantly professing God didn’t exist. That ended abruptly when I found myself crying out to the God I didn’t believe in. And, guess what? He heard me! The problem with being an atheist has always been “how does something come from nothing?” Where did that first “something” come from? If you can believe Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” then you should have no problem believing the rest of the Bible. But, if you can’t believe God created everything, then any leap of faith will stumble you. Whenever you’re facing making something out of nothing, remember that’s one of God’s specialties. If you’ll trust Him, He’ll make something out of nothing every day of your life.

Seeing Jesus in Me

We learn about God, by examining what He does. The Bible says after God created the heavens and the earth, on the seventh day He rested. God didn’t have to rest because He was tired, or to catch His breath, God rested in order to show us how we need to live. If God chose to schedule a day of rest, a day to replenish, how much more do we need to rest as well? Yet, the New Testament states that Jesus has fulfilled the purpose of God’s Sabbath. (Hebrews 4:9-11) God has given us an eternal Sabbath rest, and part of our destiny is to learn how to rest in Jesus. I take that personally. One of my life goals is to be so at rest that people can see Jesus in me.

Partial Truths

There’s nothing more dangerous than a partial truth, because a complete lie is rarely believable. So, when the devil tempted Adam and Eve and said, if you eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, “…God knows that your eyes will be opened…” (Genesis 3:5), they believed him. Their eyes were opened all right, but all they could see was a tsunami of shame hurtling toward them. (Genesis 3:7) They realized then, as we do now, that at times when our “eyes are opened” we see less, not more. I did drugs. My eyes were opened. I saw less, not more. I disobeyed my conscience… my eyes were opened. I saw less, not more. Disobedience always brings shame, and we see less not more. Follow God’s warnings, for they always lead to a safe and healthy future.

Favoritism is Pride

It is the responsibility of all parents to prepare their children for the future; but we will each need a good dose of humility to do this well. Eve’s expectations seemed to have caused her to favor her son Cain over Abel his brother. When Eve gave birth to a second son and named him Abel, the meaning of their names was most revealing. Cain means, “Here he is!” while Abel meant, “something unsatisfactory.” WOW! “Here he is!” meets “something unsatisfactory.” You could say her favoritism left Cain ill-prepared when God received Abel’s sacrifice over his. Cain then killed Abel out of jealousy. The lesson? As parents, our children will be better prepared for the future with humility rather than pride. The Bible provides the key to success, “Humility comes before honor.” (Proverbs 18:12, NIV)

Appropriate Emotion

Is God an emotional being? Absolutely! But, is He led by His emotions? Absolutely not! He’s led by His wisdom. But, at times, appropriate wisdom necessitates great emotion. In the Bible, the prophet Jeremiah was called the “weeping prophet.” Those who saw the great preacher, George Whitefield, an evangelist who helped fuel the 1st Great Awakening, said, “they never saw him preach without weeping.” True love will always require emotion! But what is appropriate emotion in an age of over-stimulation, where you can watch “tear-jerking” movie and a “side-splitting” comedy—all in the same night? One of the great challenges in this age is remaining appropriately, emotionally connected. May God help us to weep with those who weep, and rejoice with those who rejoice.

Turning Myself In

Have you been born again? Jesus said you must be “born again” in order to enter the Kingdom of God. One of the first signs that you are born again is that you take sides with God—against yourself. HA! That may sound funny, but when you and I freely admit that we’ve sinned and been wrong, we’re finally seeing how good God is, and how much we desperately need Him. Many times we’re willing to excuse our sin and even complain if anyone judges us. I’ve found a much better way to live is to turn myself in rather than wait to be caught. I want to run toward God and not away from Him, I want to trust Him more than I trust myself, because there is no One who has my best interest in mind more than He does.

Bible Miracles

Have you dismissed the Bible because you think its miraculous stories are too far-fetched: stories like Noah and the Flood? Literally, hundreds of people groups have their own accounts and legends of the Flood. Why? Because ALL people groups came from the Flood. More than 200 cultures have passed on the oral account of a worldwide flood. In 88% of these flood-believing cultures, there is a favored family, in 70% survival is due to a boat, in 95% the sole cause of the catastrophe is a flood, in 66% the disaster is due to man’s wickedness, in 67% animals are also saved, and in 57% the survivors end up on a mountain. A closer examination of God’s miracles will not just reveal their possibility, but their reality.

The Lamb Principle

There’s a principle in the Bible called the “Lamb Principle” that demonstrates the importance of giving our first and best. Abel offered God a sacrifice of his first and best lamb. Cain, at the end of days made his offering. (Genesis 4:4) The Israelites sacrificed a “first and best” Passover lamb to protect their families. (Exodus 12:11) On the Day of Atonement they likewise offered their first and best lamb for their nation. (Leviticus 23:27) All of this was a prelude to Jesus Christ, the perfect Lamb of God, being offered as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. (John 1:29) God the Father gave His first and best for us in Jesus. Would you like God to bless your life, then follow the Lamb Principle, obediently give God your first and best when it comes to all He’s given you: your time, talents and treasures.

Skip With a Limp

Would you like your life to be easier? If you would, it will likely not be for your benefit. Actually, making our lives easier will not help us fulfill our destiny. You can lower the net to four feet, but it won’t be basketball. You can take down the net completely, but it won’t be tennis. You can take off all the weights on the bar, but it won’t build muscles. In much of our culture, we’ve done our best to eliminate many of the challenges in life, but it hasn’t necessarily made our lives better or any easier. God’s looking for someone who’s willing to skip with a limp, not skimp and become a wimp. It is when we persevere during life’s struggles, cheerfully and hopefully enduring, that we see our souls truly transformed.

Rest is a Holy Act

Everything God does is holy. So, when the Bible says, “God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when He rested from His work of creation,” (Genesis 2:3) God made resting a holy act! Rest is not being entertained, spacing out, or just having fun; rest is focused peace! Resting is not being lazy! It is consciously trusting God with our lives! Rest is bowing to God, not the pressures of life, or the “god of performance!” It actually takes more faith to rest in God than to rely on ourselves. Though we are born “hardwired for rest,” this world is “hardwired for stress.” We cannot be conformed to the image and likeness of God and not live at rest, for He is not just a “God of rest,” He is a “God at rest!”

Unforced Errors

LeBron James, one of the greatest basketball players of all time, was asked what was the number one thing he did after every game. He said the first thing he does is check the number of turnovers his entire team committed and the second is the number of turnovers he personally committed. In baseball, mistakes are called errors; in football they’re known as fumbles; and in tennis they’re unforced errors. These are what champions focus on first in order to grow, succeed and win. Similarly, King David prayed, “God, keep me from presumptuous sin.” Though we shouldn’t fixate primarily on our mistakes, we need to ask God for wisdom and discernment to protect us from unforced errors that are unnecessary and will cost us dearly.

Doing the Impossible

Many times those who do the impossible don’t premeditate doing so. Perhaps it was just a vision or conviction that required everything of them and necessitated stepping out in faith in a supernatural way. They met God on their journey and He became the difference-maker. When God does the impossible it blasts us out of our unbelieving stupor into an eternal realm that will last infinitely longer than our brief time on Earth. It reminds me of Francis of Assisi, who started out a loser and ended up a legend, leading a movement of radical followers of Jesus. He said, “Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” His statement reminds me of the faith-filled words of Jesus who challenged all of us, “…with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26 b, NIV)

Something Out of Nothing

I’m a recovering atheist. I spent seven years adamantly professing God didn’t exist. That ended abruptly when I found myself crying out to the God I didn’t believe in. And, guess what? He heard me! The problem with being an atheist has always been “how does something come from nothing?” Where did that first “something” come from? If you can believe Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” then you should have no problem believing the rest of the Bible. But, if you can’t believe God created everything, then any leap of faith will stumble you. Whenever you’re facing making something out of nothing, remember that’s one of God’s specialties. If you’ll trust Him, He’ll make something out of nothing every day of your life.

Seeing Jesus in Me

We learn about God, by examining what He does. The Bible says after God created the heavens and the earth, on the seventh day He rested. God didn’t have to rest because He was tired, or to catch His breath, God rested in order to show us how we need to live. If God chose to schedule a day of rest, a day to replenish, how much more do we need to rest as well? Yet, the New Testament states that Jesus has fulfilled the purpose of God’s Sabbath. (Hebrews 4:9-11) God has given us an eternal Sabbath rest, and part of our destiny is to learn how to rest in Jesus. I take that personally. One of my life goals is to be so at rest that people can see Jesus in me.

Partial Truths

There’s nothing more dangerous than a partial truth, because a complete lie is rarely believable. So, when the devil tempted Adam and Eve and said, if you eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, “…God knows that your eyes will be opened…” (Genesis 3:5), they believed him. Their eyes were opened all right, but all they could see was a tsunami of shame hurtling toward them. (Genesis 3:7) They realized then, as we do now, that at times when our “eyes are opened” we see less, not more. I did drugs. My eyes were opened. I saw less, not more. I disobeyed my conscience… my eyes were opened. I saw less, not more. Disobedience always brings shame, and we see less not more. Follow God’s warnings, for they always lead to a safe and healthy future.

Favoritism is Pride

It is the responsibility of all parents to prepare their children for the future; but we will each need a good dose of humility to do this well. Eve’s expectations seemed to have caused her to favor her son Cain over Abel his brother. When Eve gave birth to a second son and named him Abel, the meaning of their names was most revealing. Cain means, “Here he is!” while Abel meant, “something unsatisfactory.” WOW! “Here he is!” meets “something unsatisfactory.” You could say her favoritism left Cain ill-prepared when God received Abel’s sacrifice over his. Cain then killed Abel out of jealousy. The lesson? As parents, our children will be better prepared for the future with humility rather than pride. The Bible provides the key to success, “Humility comes before honor.” (Proverbs 18:12, NIV)

Appropriate Emotion

Is God an emotional being? Absolutely! But, is He led by His emotions? Absolutely not! He’s led by His wisdom. But, at times, appropriate wisdom necessitates great emotion. In the Bible, the prophet Jeremiah was called the “weeping prophet.” Those who saw the great preacher, George Whitefield, an evangelist who helped fuel the 1st Great Awakening, said, “they never saw him preach without weeping.” True love will always require emotion! But what is appropriate emotion in an age of over-stimulation, where you can watch “tear-jerking” movie and a “side-splitting” comedy—all in the same night? One of the great challenges in this age is remaining appropriately, emotionally connected. May God help us to weep with those who weep, and rejoice with those who rejoice.

Turning Myself In

Have you been born again? Jesus said you must be “born again” in order to enter the Kingdom of God. One of the first signs that you are born again is that you take sides with God—against yourself. HA! That may sound funny, but when you and I freely admit that we’ve sinned and been wrong, we’re finally seeing how good God is, and how much we desperately need Him. Many times we’re willing to excuse our sin and even complain if anyone judges us. I’ve found a much better way to live is to turn myself in rather than wait to be caught. I want to run toward God and not away from Him, I want to trust Him more than I trust myself, because there is no One who has my best interest in mind more than He does.

Bible Miracles

Have you dismissed the Bible because you think its miraculous stories are too far-fetched: stories like Noah and the Flood? Literally, hundreds of people groups have their own accounts and legends of the Flood. Why? Because ALL people groups came from the Flood. More than 200 cultures have passed on the oral account of a worldwide flood. In 88% of these flood-believing cultures, there is a favored family, in 70% survival is due to a boat, in 95% the sole cause of the catastrophe is a flood, in 66% the disaster is due to man’s wickedness, in 67% animals are also saved, and in 57% the survivors end up on a mountain. A closer examination of God’s miracles will not just reveal their possibility, but their reality.

The Lamb Principle

There’s a principle in the Bible called the “Lamb Principle” that demonstrates the importance of giving our first and best. Abel offered God a sacrifice of his first and best lamb. Cain, at the end of days made his offering. (Genesis 4:4) The Israelites sacrificed a “first and best” Passover lamb to protect their families. (Exodus 12:11) On the Day of Atonement they likewise offered their first and best lamb for their nation. (Leviticus 23:27) All of this was a prelude to Jesus Christ, the perfect Lamb of God, being offered as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. (John 1:29) God the Father gave His first and best for us in Jesus. Would you like God to bless your life, then follow the Lamb Principle, obediently give God your first and best when it comes to all He’s given you: your time, talents and treasures.

Skip With a Limp

Would you like your life to be easier? If you would, it will likely not be for your benefit. Actually, making our lives easier will not help us fulfill our destiny. You can lower the net to four feet, but it won’t be basketball. You can take down the net completely, but it won’t be tennis. You can take off all the weights on the bar, but it won’t build muscles. In much of our culture, we’ve done our best to eliminate many of the challenges in life, but it hasn’t necessarily made our lives better or any easier. God’s looking for someone who’s willing to skip with a limp, not skimp and become a wimp. It is when we persevere during life’s struggles, cheerfully and hopefully enduring, that we see our souls truly transformed.

Rest is a Holy Act

Everything God does is holy. So, when the Bible says, “God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when He rested from His work of creation,” (Genesis 2:3) God made resting a holy act! Rest is not being entertained, spacing out, or just having fun; rest is focused peace! Resting is not being lazy! It is consciously trusting God with our lives! Rest is bowing to God, not the pressures of life, or the “god of performance!” It actually takes more faith to rest in God than to rely on ourselves. Though we are born “hardwired for rest,” this world is “hardwired for stress.” We cannot be conformed to the image and likeness of God and not live at rest, for He is not just a “God of rest,” He is a “God at rest!”

You’re God’s Favorite

Does God have favorites? Absolutely! Each of us are His favorite representation of the one-of-a-kind qualities He’s given us. That’s not just a play on words, it’s an accurate description of how special we are to God. It is impossible for Him to give us less than His best, because He’s already given it! From the foundation of the world, God pre-determined that this was indeed His will. His love compelled Him to divinely prepare the perfect script for each of our lives. The Bible says, “He who did not spare his own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32, ESV) Knowing that I am a favorite son of God changed my life, and it will change your life as well.

Too Much Bad News

Do you feel overwhelmed by all of the bad things happening on Earth? How could you not? That’s why it’s so important to monitor what comes into your mind. You can’t have healthy thoughts if you are constantly feeding on the graphic unhealthiness happening around you. We all know there’s such a thing as PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). But, is it possible that many of us are experiencing TMBN (Too Much Bad News). We are not capable of going from one overtly tragic piece of information to another. We will invariably become like the company we keep…be it people or thoughts! The Bible says, “…whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8, ESV)

My Meds Have Kicked In

I once got up in front of our congregation after worship and shared enthusiastically, “Well, my meds have finally kicked in, and I’m really excited about it!” Stunned faces greeted my open admission. I quickly followed with, “Yep, I’m really trying to follow the Bible’s encouragement, ‘A merry heart does good, like medicine.’” (Proverbs 17:22, NKJV) Faces began to relax and smile, as I continued, “I’ve decided to take the meds God’s been asking me to take. I’m going to rejoice evermore. In everything give thanks, and I’m going to ‘…count it all joy when I fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of my faith is producing patience. I’ve decided to let patience have its perfect work, that I can be perfect and complete, lacking nothing…’” I finished with, “So, will you join me? Let’s begin taking the meds God’s asked us to take.”

Marriage Guidelines

Here are some guidelines that have worked during Suzie and my 40 years of marriage. We have different perspectives, but if something’s important to either of us, it’s important. We don’t have to understand each other’s journey in order to be kind, caring and affirming. Whenever one of us is unheard we feel devalued. By listening more and talking less we try and be more concerned about hearing than being heard. Doing right is more important than being right. We can fester on past breaches with one another, or we can forgive and release, because we want our relationship to always be filled with more hope than tension. We’re not looking for equity, we want healing. Though not always successful, we try to live, laying down our lives, turning the other cheek, and running the extra mile.

Faithfulness

One of the qualities that hurts most when lost and blesses most when found, is loyalty. It has been defined as “using difficult times to demonstrate my commitment to God and to those whom He has called me to serve.” For some people, loyalty is a thing of the past, being trumped by individual preference. We are fast-becoming the most self-absorbed generation in history. Yet, unfaithfulness is one of life’s greatest heartbreaks. The Bible says, “a faithful man who can find!” (Proverbs 20:6, ESV) Having been an “unfaithful man” prior to allowing Jesus to be the Lord of my life, I sang to my wife Suzie on our wedding day, “Suzie I won’t fail you!” That’s still the desire of my heart, and my daily prayer. May the God who is faithful to us help us to be faithful to others.

Virtue

There are some things that are timeless—even priceless for all generations. One of them is virtue. Noah Webster defined virtue as “voluntary obedience to truth, strength that comes from straining, stretching, and extending.” It’s always a stretch to live a virtuous life. We strain and extend ourselves to voluntarily walk in truth. It always takes yielding to God’s Spirit in order to have Christ-like character. The Bible says, “…add to your faith virtue…” (2 Peter 1:5, NKJV) Faith is eternal, but it will take voluntary virtue to strain, stretch and extend us in order to be faithful to Jesus. Proverbs says, “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.” (Proverbs 31:10, KJV) Virtue is priceless and timeless, and essential to pursue for every Christ-follower.

Gypsy Smith

Gypsy Smith was born in a tent six miles outside of London. When he was young his mother died of smallpox, and he spent most of his early life living in a gypsy wagon. At the time he received Jesus at sixteen, he couldn’t read or write, yet when he was born again he carried around a Bible, an English Dictionary and a Bible Dictionary wherever he went, even though he couldn’t read them. He would say, “one day I’ll be able to read these because God has called me to preach.” Through diligence and self-discipline he taught himself how to read and ultimately preached, seeing tens of thousands come to know Jesus. Some consider him the best-loved evangelist of all time! The Bible says, “…diligence is man’s precious possession.” (2 Peter 1:5, NKJV) It can be the difference-maker in a life that is truly successful.

Guard Your Heart, Mind and Friendships

Have you ever heard these expressions, “He made me so mad!” or “I get so frustrated when I’m around her!” These statements actually are not true. No one can make you feel mad, sad, or frustrated; only you can do that. Your responses to life’s challenges are always completely in your court. That’s why the Bible says, “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” (Proverbs 4:23, NLT) No one can get into your home unless you let him. That’s why it’s important to wash and renew your mind with God’s Word every day in order to keep the bad thoughts out. Finally, the Bible does provide further guidelines, “Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person…or you may learn their ways.” (Proverbs 22:24-25, NIV) To sum it up: Carefully guard your heart, thoughts and friendships.

Character

Is there anything more important than character? I don’t think so. Character in Scripture is translated as the “express image,” and was considered as “the exact representation of the object whose image it bore.” The word “character” means the impression itself, usually something engraved, cut in, or stamped. In the Book of Hebrews, Jesus Christ is referred to as the “express image” of God; (Hebrews 1:3) He fully expressed the character of God through His life. One of God’s primary goals for believers is to transform us into the image of His Son so that we may be a reflection of the character of Christ…the stamp or impression of God’s life and character on us. So that, when people see us, they are seeing the heart and character of God. To me, that sounds exactly how I want to live.

Sincere

One of the most encouraging things someone can say about you is that, “You’re sincere!” “Sincere!” That’s actually quite a compliment. But what does it really mean? The word “sincere” has two Latin routes: “sin” meaning “without,” and “cere” meaning “flaws.” So, sincere literally means “without flaws.” When a sculpture was made, to make a bronze figuring, they would start off first by making a wax original. When wax originals were ready to be cast, they had to be sincere: “without flaws.” So, when we say, “she’s sincere,” what we’re really saying is, she’s a person without deception or flaws. Even though we all know we have flaws, it does provide a goal worth pursuing. The Bible says, “…that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ…” (Philippians 1:10, NKJV)

Smith Wigglesworth

I don’t know about you, but I’m comforted when I hear that great men and women of God were as challenged as I often feel. One man God mightily used was a plumber by trade, but ultimately traveled the world ministering to thousands. His name was Smith Wigglesworth, and he wrote this: “Before God could bring me to this place, he broke me a thousand times. I have wept, I have groaned, I have travailed many a night until God broke me. It seems to me that until God has mowed you down, you never can have this long-suffering for others.” WOW! That makes sense! How can I have compassion for others without God doing a deep work in me. So, the next time you’re thinking what you’re going through isn’t worth it, realize God is going to use all you’ve been through to help someone else.

Unanswered Prayers

Are there prayers God can’t answer? Definitely! Here are a couple of unanswerable prayers: “God, make my life easier?” “Sorry son, I can’t do that! It would only diminish who you were created to become.” “OK then, make my life more challenging, so I can grow faster? “Once again, I can’t do it, because I’ve already set in motion what needs to take place in your life for you to grow as fast as possible.” Are you getting the picture? God’s pre-determined what is best for each of us, so any adjustments on His part are not necessary. This is actually an incredibly liberating thought. Now, all we have to do is agree with Him and obey Him in order to reap the benefits of His grace.

Secretariat

Secretariat is considered by many to be the greatest thoroughbred of all time, with the rare ability for both stamina and speed. Unlike most horses, the more Secretariat ran, the faster he would get. In 1973, he became the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years, setting race records in all three events (Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and the Belmont). These records stand today. He was known for still accelerating in the final quarter-mile of his races. What was his secret? After he died, an autopsy revealed he had been born with an enlarged heart. Hmm? What a great principle! A big heart can help us run hard towards the goal, even to our last days. “Jesus, give us big hearts to follow hard after You!”

Expectations

Expectations are a funny thing. We can’t live without them and eventually we realize we can’t live with them. They’re fun when they’re met…debilitating when they’re not; and frankly, unless they’re God’s expectations for us, they may be exactly what we don’t need. I can’t meet your expectations of me and you can’t meet mine for you. But, perhaps the worst thing about expectations is believing that we haven’t met Gods, or that He hasn’t met ours. But the truth is, God’s relationship with us is NOT based on “expectations,” it’s based on “acceptance.” God loves who He created us to be, and the main reason He wants us to change our behavior is because some of the decisions we make distort who we are created to be. Accept God’s love for you, and then your expectation of Him will be filled with trust.

Marriage Protects Women

Contrary to conventional wisdom, one of the greatest benefits to women is a God-ordained institution called marriage. It can protect a woman from being taken advantage of by a man who wants the benefits of a relationship without the responsibility. Even the United Nations in its “Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” declared rightly, “the Family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society…” The only challenge to this sentence comes when we are deceived into thinking we can re-define what a family is. God defined marriage and family for all generations: “…a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24, ESV) May we each find the protection we long for by aligning ourselves with God’s inspired order for our lives.

Mixed Messages

When Jesus said, “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one,” (John 17:15, NIV) He knew this would require great discernment on our part; to know what thoughts are from God and which ones are deceptions sent to seduce us. Mixed messages, though subtle, are rarely missed messages; in their content we find their intent and the motive behind the words. The airwaves are filled with mixed messages that deceive the naïve. That’s why we must, as Jesus admonished, be as wise as serpents, but harmless as doves. (Matthew 10:16) Test the intent behind the words that come your way. Do they give you a greater desire to do the will of God, or are they mine fields laying in wait to draw you further away from His best for your life.

Umbrellas and Sponges

How we relate to the stresses of life can lead to peace or pressure. Nothing can rock me unless I allow it. I am the gatekeeper; the thought processor, the embracer or resister of all that life sends my way. At times, I need to be an umbrella, deflecting the insecurities and fears that try to drown my thought life. At other moments, I must be a sponge; moment-by-moment absorbing God’s Word, allowing the presence of God to soak into my thirsty soul and spirit. I am an umbrella for the stress and confusion around me, but a sponge for healthy experiences that draw me closer to Jesus and all the good He intends for me. The Bible promises, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3, ESV)

Faith or Fear

Faith and fear have one thing in common, neither one has happened yet. No one can superimpose either filter on how I process my life. I can expect a blessing or a burden. I can wrap my arms around the truth or snuggle with lies. The truth is, there is an all-powerful, all-loving Father in Heaven who before I breathed one breath wrote a perfect script for my life. When I combine my faith with His faithfulness I will learn to trust Him, and my experience of life will take my breath away. The Bible says, “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one…” (Ephesians 6:16, ESV) No weapon formed against me will prosper unless I choose to let it. Faith or fear, it’s always our choice.

Eat Dirt or Humble Pie

Whether I eat dirt or humble pie is always my decision. Humility has been defined as “having or showing a modest or low estimate of one’s own importance.” No one can humble me. Humility must be my own preference. Sir Isaac Newton’s first law of motion determined that an object will stay in motion as long as no opposing force is put on the object. Winds that are close to the Earth’s surface are less intense since friction has reduced their wind speed. If I humble myself and bow to God, I will be less tossed about by the winds of adversity. Whether I stand proud or bow humbly will most certainly affect my quality of life. I choose to bow to my Creator, for only then can He lift me up above the more unsettling winds of life.

Grateful Not Entitled

I heard a joke that had some truth to it. “I’m OCD and ADD, so I want everything perfect, but just for a little while.” It’s pretty funny, but also somewhat true. We are all hard-wired to want what we want when we want it, and an exceptional blessing can easily become an expected pattern. A friend of mine mentioned that his stepdad, who had little contact with him, cut off all communication because a Christmas invitation one year became an expected invite every year. When this did not occur, the entire relationship was discarded. I’m grateful that God never discarded me when I was far from Him, and I try to live as if nothing is expected from God and others. When something extraordinary takes place, feel grateful and not entitled.

Revelations From Heaven

Revelations from God are never birthed in time and space, but bloom forever in Heaven. I have had many lesser thoughts that have a shelf life of nanoseconds, but the God-inspired revelations that came as lightning bolts of truth, these are the thoughts I will cherish throughout eternity. The Bible says, “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.” (Psalm 119:89, NKJV) “Oh, how I love your instructions! I think about them all day long.” (Psalm 119:97, NLT) We will cherish revelations from God forever, because the Word that had no beginning will likewise have no end. The Word that became flesh and walked among us is even now seated on the very Throne of God. It is this eternal Word that reaches out to enlighten us each and every day. God speak! We are desperate to hear you.

You Go Sleep With God!

A three-year old little girl came trembling into her parents’ bedroom in the middle of the night. Shaking her mom she said, “Mommy, I’m scared,” The mother, barely awake, said, “Go back to your bed, Sweetheart. God will be there with you.” After considering what her mom said for a few moments, the little girl responded, “Mommy, I’ll sleep here with Daddy and you can go in there and sleep with God.” It’s a funny story, but with a good point. At times, each of us need a god with skin. That’s why being a safe parent is so important. We are often the first representation of what God is like for our kids. The Bible says, “Then little children were brought to (Jesus) that He might put His hands on them and pray.” (Matthew 19:13, NKJV) Pray over your children. Be the “god with skin.”

Naïve Preferences

Life usually doesn’t turn out the way we expect, and that can be very frustrating, especially if we’re looking at the wrong thing. The wrong perspective is invariably our naïve preference, our attachment to the way we think life should be, as if, out of all options, we could ever know what’s best. We don’t! Never have and never will! How could we? We can barely focus on our present, but God sees past, present and future continually before Him. He’s already chosen the best possible plan for our lives. It’s called His will, and the only way to experience it is to trust Him. If we can trust God, and see our lives through His eyes, our lives will always, absolutely, turn out for our good and for the best.

Prayer Burdens

Do you have a burden to pray? If you do, it didn’t start as your burden. It started with God. We don’t pray to get God’s attention, we pray because God had gotten our attention. I’ve never initiated anything of eternal value. If I happened to strike everlasting gold, it’s because God shook me hard enough to awaken me to do His will. The Bible says, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” (Ephesians 5:14, NLT) I want to live fully awake. I want to die fully awake. I want to pray what’s on God’s heart, for only then will my prayers be answered. God’s will is not limiting. It is the invitation we have each been waiting for, to the best of all possible options for our lives.

God’s Plan “A”

Want to know a secret in finding out the will of God? Start by realizing you don’t know it. James wrote, “If any of you lack wisdom…” That would be all of us. “…let him ask God.” (James 1:5) So, asking God for wisdom should be like breathing—a moment-by-moment expression of our need for Him. We think we know what’s best. We don’t! God’s Plan “A” is often our Plan “B” or “C.” But, if we trust God, even every worse-case scenario will have a silver lining! And that silver lining is called grace, accessed by faith, and planted in each of our hearts. “Jesus, give me the faith to always believe that you not only know best, but that You are activating Your best for my life, even now.”

Habits

Habits are an interesting thing. They can be either good or bad, but always hard to break. Call them routines or patterns, traditions or addictions. They can be our best friend or our worst enemy. Habits have been defined as “regular tendencies or practices that are hard to give up.” Godly habits can keep us on track, fuel us when we’re empty and encourage us when we’re down. Bad habits can likewise rob us of our peace, break our hearts and make us beg for mercy. But I have found pursuing God is the best habit of all. He is the deep groove I want etched into my life; my best compulsion, my most magnificent obsession and my faithful fixation. “Jesus, You are the one habit I never want to lose!

Why You Were Created

One of the devil’s biggest lies is telling us that what happens here on Earth stays on Earth. In reality, what happens on Earth affects us forever. The truth is—our life on Earth is a mere dress rehearsal for eternity. Unless our sins are covered by the blood of Jesus, we’ll be smothered by the shame of having not received our only hope of being forgiven. Accept the sacrifice of God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12, NLT) If we refuse to accept the gift Heaven has sent, Jesus, one day we’ll realize the sad truth, no One else is coming. Let Jesus be your Savior and Lord today, and you will at last understand why you were created.

Walking Toward Jesus

I want to live a safe life, but I don’t want to live so safe I never rely completely on God. Mark Twain once wrote, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bow lines, sail away from the safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” How true! We can stay close to the shore, and never launch out into the depth of God’s great adventure. If we never break a nail, we likewise may never break free from the fear of the unknown, which may just be a lack of willingness to trust God. The Bible says, “Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus” (Matthew 14:19) We’re always safer walking toward Jesus than cowering in the boat.

Holy Anger

Someone once said, “the first time something holy in you gets violated, you get angry.” Though this initial anger is justified, it can lead to anger that has no justification. Pay attention to the root of your anger. Are you lashing back at a past injustice, or a present response to what needs to be set right. When the Bible says, “Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry…” (Ephesians 4:26, NLT) it implies there are times when anger is appropriate: when we see injustice, prejudice, evil or cruelty. We feel indignation, an anger provoked by what we perceive is unfair treatment. At that moment, unless we allow God’s Spirit to guide us, we may realize all too late that “human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.” (James 1:20, NLT)

Life is a Maze

Life is a maze. We go this way and that, looking for a way up and out— somewhere beyond the pain and disillusionment of the moment. But that’s where what we really want is always tested. Are we searching for that which satisfies for a moment, or that which lasts forever? Never underestimate deception’s ability to embrace a false reality as an absolute truth—to explain away the simplicity of God’s reality. I can’t persuade you to believe the obvious, but it is this: we can see in the beautiful creation that there is a Creator, and we can see in our conscience, that we are not Him. This reality is simple and present if you’d just take a moment to look around. The maze of your life may seem complicated to you, but it’s not complicated to God.

The Blessed Option

Life is filled with an infinite number of options, but only one alternative is best when it comes to living a blessed life. Only one choice leads to the peace that goes beyond my understanding. Just one possibility opens my heart to joy unspeakable and mercies that never end. The way to a blessed life is to fully trust God. Every other option for how to live is an infinitely distant second. The Bible says, “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.” (Psalm 37:4-5, NLT) I have found that trusting God is the only option that doesn’t disappoint, and my only hope to live the life I’ve always dreamed of.

Laughing Last

We all fall and fail! But, our failing and the despair it generates can’t compare with the depth of despair the devil faces every day. He knows deep down, his efforts to destroy us will only end in absolute failure. Our failing is our sad beginning! His failing will be his tragic end! Our failing creates the plot and tension that eventually leads to our rescue, and one of the great joys in life: realizing that all the devil meant for evil has turned out for God’s glory and my good. He who laughs last, laughs best! That Person would be God, and those who belong to Him. Never forget, the God who created laughter, loves to laugh, and if we surrender our lives to Him, we will laugh and rejoice around His throne forever.

Three Basic Life Questions

When my father died, though his picture was placed on the front page of the New York Times, he died empty, having never answered life’s three most basic questions. The same questions each of us ask ourselves everyday: Am I enough? Do I have enough? Have I done enough?

Am I enough? Is fed by our insecurities, and can only be answered when we receive our Creator’s approval. Do I have enough? Is fueled by our fear of tomorrow, and our insatiable appetites. And lastly, have I done enough or not done enough? Is stirred by the guilt of unachievable ambitions. The truth is, when God is enough for me, I realize I am enough for Him, I have enough in Him, and I don’t have to do enough to please Him. He’s already pleased.

God’s Good News

Most Christian’s perspective of who they are begins in Genesis 3, The Fall, and not Genesis 1, The Creation; that we are mostly bad, and not good! But, I believe what was most true about who we were in the beginning, is still true about us. We were made in the image and likeness of God, and that’s still true. In the first chapter of Genesis, the Bible says, “God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31, NKJV) Even though we fell from that grace and sinned, we can fall once again into His arms and be forgiven. He never intended to let us merely wallow in the bad, but instead sent His Son to die and rise so that we can live and bask in the good. Don’t turn God’s good news into bad news. Remember who He created you to be, and rejoice in that.

The Best Part of the Story

The greatest failures in my life occurred when I believed lies about what is most true about me. The fact is: we are all living in various stages of repentance. We are either acknowledging or denying when we fail, and then repenting of our sins, or going our merry way as if nothing happened. But, something has happened. We have all sinned and fallen short of God’s best for us. Yet, if that’s all we know, we’re missing the best part of the story, that what is most true about me is not just what God is focusing on, but what He wants me to focus on as well. Don’t fixate on what your not, when God’s centering in on what you are: created to be sons and daughters of the living God.

Knowing God’s Motive

Learning to fight in the ring is dangerous. We must first practice in the gym. It’s only through preparation that we can be truly prepared. What Jesus resisted personally in the desert, He defeated permanently on the Cross. He became rejected so I can be accepted; uncovered so I can be covered; needy, so I can be satisfied; and weak, so I can live strong. God didn’t find Adam and Eve in the Garden to shame them. He found them wallowing in their sin, so He could cover them. Unless we trust that the motive of God is good and kind, merciful and forgiving, we’ll live in shame and regret, instead of His endless peace and forgiveness. What God thinks of me is infinitely more important than what I think of myself.

Little By Little

All of us would like God to move faster to help us, and slower to discipline us, but the reason He doesn’t fulfill this desire is because His plan is better. When the Children of Israel were concerned about the giants in the land of Canaan, God said, “I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. Little by little I will drive them out from before you…” (Exodus 23:29-30a, NKJV) If God gave us the Garden of Eden all at once, it would turn into a jungle. God is leading us one step at a time, one prayer at a time, and one act of faith at a time. Trust in His leading. It is the only way to arrive safely home.

The Value of Little Things

As a young man I had a job cleaning a restaurant’s kitchen. No matter how spotless I made it, it would be a mess the next day. One day as I was mopping my way out, I caught a strand of the mop on the leg of a dishwasher. Though I initially thought, “I’ll get it tomorrow.” God send me back 15 minutes later to pick it up. Now, forty years down the road, I’m still obeying and seeing the value of little things. We can spend our lives waiting to see a tree, when God wants us to first see a seed. The abundance of a garden starts with the tiniest sprout. If we can’t see the value of the seed, we’ll never reap its abundance. The Bible says, “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin.” (Zechariah 4:10, NLT)

Complete in Him, Alone

In a world of seemingly infinite options, we can consider God’s will as just another possibility, one choice in a countless number of equally good alternatives. Yet, only God’s will brings about the fullness of our true potential. Only God’s will brings us to the best of all possible options. Our will can only magnify our lack of completeness. When the Bible says, “…you are complete in Him” (Colossians 2:10, NKJV), it is not listing Jesus as one of a number of perfectly fine would-be gods. It is saying that only through Jesus Christ, God the Son come to Earth, can we be forgiven for our sins and fulfill His one-of-a-kind destiny. The Bible says, “…there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12, ESV)

Circular Journeys

As I was getting off a plane to go to a connecting flight, I glanced at the electronic Departure Board to see what gate was next. Having flown so much, I was confident I knew what I was doing. Taking the tram in this busy airport, I arrived at the gate only to realize I had read the flight information incorrectly and actually needed to go back to the original gate I had arrived at 15 minutes before. After racing to get there, I walked back into my first plane and even was assigned the exact same seat. As I sat back, now sweating, 30 minutes into my circular journey, I laughed at my foolishness, and God gently reminded me to pay attention, and to not take even little things for granted. It was a good lesson I hope I never forget.

The Humor and Holiness of God

One of the indicators for me that a person really knows God is that they understand, not just His Holiness, but also His humor. A person who really knows God can cry or laugh in His presence, because the reason they feel, care, and enjoy life is because God feels and cares, and is the most joyful Person who ever lived. Jesus wept, but He also laughed and had such an enjoyable personality that children were attracted to Him. When we see God as both a Father and a friend, we can then fully honor, love and enjoy Him. When we can laugh at the challenges of life, without being anxious or worried, we are then trusting that God is greater than the struggles of Earth and always has our lives in His safe hands.

The Tests of Earth

How we view our challenges will determine whether they work for our good or not. It is vitally important that I see my struggles as a test and not a threat. Greater is he who is in me than anything that could assault me. Considering the tests of Earth as threats to my wellbeing ultimately turns my life into a fear-based experience rather than a faith-filled opportunity, perfectly crafted for my good. No one can force me to bow to fear and unbelief. The enemy cannot intimidate me, unless I allow him to. I must choose to reverently bow, each and every day, to the Holy Spirit and His protective will for my life. The Bible says, “…for in Him we live and move and have our being…” (Acts 17:28, NKJV)

8. The Prayer of Jabez

All of us have identity issues. Our challenge is: will we see ourselves as God intended or as others determine? There’s a famous prayer in the Bible. Prayed by a man named Jabez, whose name meant “sorrow and pain.” He prayed, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed…that I may not cause pain!” God granted Jabez what he requested. (1 Chronicles 4:10) Jabez had spent his life viewing himself through someone else’s lens. They saw him as one who brought pain and sorrow. He wanted to break that curse and did. What curse have others placed on you that God wants to break off? May we each pray prayers that connect us to God’s true identity and destiny for us, and not the hurtful misrepresentations of others.

Complete Forgiveness, Acceptance and Peace

There are many absolute truths in life, but there’s one we should never forget. I can’t relive what happened to me, but I can reprocess its affect on my life and future. How others see me is their choice, but how I see me is always mine. Most people’s regrets are NOT about what they did do, but about what they didn’t do. And many times, corrective actions can get my life back on track. The most predominant, one-word command given to all humanity by God is: “Repent!” It means, “turn away from the way you’ve been thinking and begin to see your life the way God sees it.” That perspective will always bring us to a place of complete forgiveness, acceptance and peace.

Being a Positive Person

One of my goals is to be a positive person. Why? Because that’s how God views, not just my future, but also everyone He created. We can fixate on the wrong in others and ourselves for so long that’s all we wind up seeing. We can naively think, because I’ve always viewed myself a certain way, it must be how God sees me. But nothing could be further from the truth. No one has ever been encouraged by criticism, built up by negativism, or inspired by sarcasm. There is not a judgmental, angry Creator in Heaven, but rather a loving, forgiving Father, who wants to make right every wrong done to us, or by us. His greatest desire should be ours as well: to spend eternity with us, accepted and loved.

Trusting the God Who Knows

If you have to know what’s going on before you can trust God, you will never fully trust Him. I don’t have to know what’s happening, I just have to trust God knows. I have never banged on a cockpit door asking the pilot if he knew where he was going. How we respond to life is infinitely more important than what happens to us. I’m going to focus on what’s happening IN me not around me! I want to trust in God’s irrevocable promises, and to remember God’s undeniable goodness. Whatever reality I focus on, I will eventually become. I will believe the truth that there’s a loving God who was not just delighted when He created me, but is delighted whenever He thinks of me, and He thinks of me all the time. It is God’s goodness that leads me to change.

Blessed Beyond Measure

Here are some absolutes I’ve found that have brought me both pain and pleasure: if I have a preference, I won’t get God’s will. If I give into fear, or question whether God is able, I won’t get His best for my life. But if I believe the truth: that God not only knows what’s best for me, but if I trust Him, He’s ordered my steps in such a way that my life will turn out infinitely better than I could ever have imagined. If I focus on the tiny amount of faith He’s given me, I will find it’s more than enough to transform any impossible situation into one of infinite hope. And lastly, if I believe as the Bible says that God is “…able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us…” (Ephesians 3:20, ESV), my life will be blessed beyond measure.

1. Grace Isn’t Cheap

There is no more marvelous word in the Christian faith than “grace.” It’s what Jesus provided for us when He died in our place. It’s God’s gift to us. God’s unmerited favor! Kindness we don’t deserve, or could ever earn. Grace is the divine assistance given to humans for their rebirth and sanctification, allowing us to actually become holy. It’s our “Get Out Of Hell Free Card,” but it didn’t come cheap. It cost Jesus His life! But, there is something we can do to miss all of that marvelous grace. The Bible says, “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled…” (Hebrews 12:15, ESV) Who wants to flunk being forgiven? Forgive those who have hurt you!

2. Don’t Be Creative…Be Obedient

When it comes to obeying God, “stopping” may be as courageous as “starting.” No action is more heroic than another. All that matters is, what is God asking you to do. If God is saying, “Go forward!” then go forward. But, if He’s saying, “Stop,” then stopping is the most-gutsy thing you can do at that moment. This is why I have no preference when it comes to God’s will. I don’t know enough to have one. I’d have to know the future and all possibilities. I accept that the wisest thing I can ever do is “obey God.” I don’t even need to be creative. I just need to submit to the will of the only Person who knows what really should happen. And this obedience has truly allowed my life to be blessed.

3. Dying To Live

Are you prepared for the future? I’ve found in my own life, nothing jars me more than a left-hook from nowhere that rocks my world. So, it’s important to ask, “Am I merely preparing my heart for success, or am I getting ready for the inevitable reality of facing some measure failure…setback…or severe struggle?” Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24, ESV) Am I practically, tangibly, daily, preparing my heart to take up my cross…dying to myself…dying to my will? Is there really such a thing as a cross-less resurrection? The truth is, the cross is not an option if I’m truly going to follow Jesus? There is no cross-less resurrection. I accept the reality that I am dying to live.

4. The Least of These

We all know the admonition of Jesus, that as much as you’ve done it to the least of these you’ve done it to Me. It is in constant reminder of the reality that everyone, the matter how weak or seemingly insignificant is important to God. We have a special needs man named Michael who comes every week with adult supervision to clean our church. When he found himself in an ICU ward, word came to me that he had asked for me in particular to come. It broke my heart and made me cry when I realized I was more excited about him contacting me and requesting my presence then if he had been a well-known public figure. From God’s perspective, we must never forget, everyone we meet is, to Him, a well-known public figure.

5. Backstage Pass With God

I have a backstage pass with God. But don’t be jealous, if Jesus is your Lord, so do you. Because God’s heart is for me, I can jump into His lap any time I want to. He’s always excited to see me. He enjoys me infinitely more than I could ever enjoy Him. Because He created me to be a fascination to Him there is nothing I could ever do to turn His heart away from me. Jesus died to insure that I always have right standing before my Heavenly Father. I am a delight to God, and He’s promised me, if I delight myself in Him He will grant me the desires of my heart. Desires I guard, so that they come from Him alone, and not from my shallow understanding.

6. The Most Trust Worthy Person of All

God brings each of us to the end of ourselves! But don’t be discouraged. It’s the safest place to be. For only there can we meet God, when we have no other recourse but to turn to Him. Often it’s after we have tried every other option but Him. We find ourselves with a deep dissatisfaction, that frankly is Heaven-sent. So, the question is, are you desperate enough to want God—first and foremost? I’ve found it’s the healthiest place to be. Where Jesus plus nothing is everything! Where we finally accept that only what God authors will He finish. Where at last I learn to trust, the most trust worthy Person of all time. The Bible says, “…those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.” (Psalm 9:10, ESV)

7. Prayers That Move Mountains

It takes God to love God. We have never initiated anything eternal. Either God authors it or it will eventually cease to exist. What is God initiating in your heart? What cloud, the size of a fist, is on the horizon that will bring the rain your heart longs for and will help those around you? Our prayers merely affirm what God has already started. Our prayers are meant to agree with what’s on God’s heart. That’s when we commune with Him as a son and daughter, a beloved member of His family, and not some disconnected part of Christ’s body. Pray with the power of agreement that moves mountains, raises the dead, shake cities, and brings Heaven to Earth. Our prayers help fulfill God’s will on Earth.

8. Getting Healed and Whole

Some people get healed, but are still not whole. Jesus healed ten lepers, but only one got whole, and returned to glorify and thank God (Luke 17:15-16). Ironically, he was a Samaritan: half-Jew and half-Gentile, but a whole follower of Jesus. In Acts 3, the man unable to walk from birth at the Beautiful Gate, not only got healed, he became so whole he went away walking, leaping and praising God. (Acts 3: 8) I’m not looking to God for a quick fix. I’m trusting in Him for the long haul. He doesn’t want to date me. He wants to marry me. Getting my temporary, natural body healed would be wonderful, but what is infinitely better is my spirit communing with my Creator, and my eternal soul, mind will and emotions completely restored.

9. Emotional Safety Nests

Do you have an emotional safety net? I believe it’s vital in oder for us to thrive in life. An emotional safety net is that place I go in God when I’m overwhelmed about what’s happening or what could happen to me. It’s the perspective that brings me peace of mind. I’m not talking about donuts and drugs or fantasy and other false comforts. It’s confidence in God that is so secure, so unwavering, that it brings me the greatest comfort when I am most fragile. The Bible says experience gives us hope. Initially it was the experience of Bible characters, historic Christ-followers, or people I knew and respected that brought me hope. In time it was my own experience. I just need to remember and take shelter in the emotional safety net that if God is for me, who can be against me?

10. The Game of Faith

I’ve been playing a wonderful game with God for many years. I call it the Game of Faith. It’s actually quite serious, but fun too. Here’s how it works. When you are absolutely persuaded God has spoken a clear word from Scripture to your spirit, the longer you are able to stand on that word without seeing any tangible answer to your prayers, you win. I try and trust longer and longer without doubting. It builds spiritual muscles, glorifies God, and makes me smile. Why do I play the game? Because I know that God is completely trustworthy, and I’m really tired of not trusting Him. It’s a way to remind myself that He’s worth waiting for. He’s always been faithful, whether I see it, feel it, or know it.

11. Unconditional Love Requires Conditional Faith

God’s love is unconditional, but accessing His life and grace always requires conditional faith. The Bible says, “Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.” (James 2:26, NLT) This principle was evident even in the Old Testament story about Naaman, the Syrian general. He would not have been healed of his leprosy if he had been unwilling to obey God, speaking through the prophet Elijah, to dip in the Jordan River seven times. So, yes, God’s love is unconditional, it is freely given to each of us. But, in order to receive this marvelous love, we’re going to have to step out in faith. This will take effort, obedience, and often, great courage. But, the reward for this faith will intimately connect us with the God who is love.

12. What Do You Really Want?

There’s a question I sense Jesus asking me quite often that doesn’t have an easy answer. He says, “What do you really want? Do you want Me, or just what I can do for you? Do you want to use Me, or get to know Me?” I can answer it quickly, and say I want to know You Jesus! But do my thoughts and actions confirm this? In the Book of John, two disciples were following Jesus. Then He turned and said, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Teacher, where are You staying?” Jesus said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw…and remained with Him… (John 1:37-39) At the end of the day, God doesn’t want to be used any more than we do. He wants a relationship that lasts forever.

Rear View Mirrors
Did you ever consider why your rear view mirror is so much smaller than your windshield? It’s because we should be infinitely more concerned with what’s ahead of us than what’s behind us. We may glimpse at the past, but we must fully focus on what’s present and future. Frankly, there’s a high probability that we will wreck if we are overly fixated on what’s happening behind us. Paul the Apostle wrote a similar admonition, “…I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” (Philippians 3:13-14, NLT) I learn from my past, but I live in the present and long for the future. It’s a safe way to live.

Pity Parties
Want to go to a really small party and have no fun? Have a pity party! There’s only room for one person, because no one else wants to come. You’ll have to laugh at your jokes, cry over your own stories, and clean up after yourself. While parties are meant to make us feel better, pity parties always make not only us feel worse, but they’re downers for anyone foolish enough to accept our invitation. As a matter of fact, you can’t even get God to attend a pity party and He’s omnipresent. But when God throws a party they’re filled with joy. His invitation says, “Always be joyful. Never stop praying, be thankful in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NLT) I like God’s parties! They’re just better!

The Winning Side of Expectations
Are you disappointed because something you were really looking forward to didn’t happen? Has it left you devastated and discouraged? Let me offer a thought on how to get on the winning side of expectations? It’s made my life infinitely better. Expect nothing from others and much from yourself. Assume other people will not necessarily do what is right or what I hope, but be completely committed to do right and respond well no matter what happens or what others do. In the end, what I do is my responsibility, what others do is theirs. Lastly, even when I mess up and respond poorly, I must remember what the Bible says, “If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts…” (1 John 3:20, NIV) I like God and, the really good news is, He likes me.

Abandonment and Rejection
Have you struggled with abandonment and rejection? I know I have! I left my family at 11 years of age to live in an oppressive boarding school, and never lived at home again. It created deep wounds inside my heart. I felt completely abandoned and rejected by my father in particular who is in control of the decision. Because of that experience I’ve had to really concentrate on learning to trust that, though my natural father abandoned and rejected me, my Heavenly Father never has. It’s been a long process, but one I have far more victory in then I could ever have imagined. Many years ago, this Bible verse greatly encouraged me, “Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close.” (Psalm 27:10, NLT)

Using God
Have you ever been used by someone else? And then, when they were done with you, you were discarded. Your usefulness had expired. It can be one of the most hurtful experiences in life. Sadly, it happens all the time: in relationships, in jobs—used and discarded, out with the old and in with the new. Once, during an extended time of worship in the presence of God, He spoke clearly to my heart, “I don’t want to be used.” Wow! It jolted me! I didn’t just want a relationship with God; I was using Him for what He could do for me. As none of us want to be used, neither does God. Perhaps you would like to join me in this prayer, “God, I don’t want to use You! I want to live for you…to know You! I want to love you! That’s what I really want!”Word Count: 149 words

Defining Grace
Would it surprise you if I said I’ve learned far more from my failures than my successes? Actually, we all need to fail in order to learn about what we each need most. It’s called grace! I can’t fully appreciate who I’m called to be, until I fail to be just that. One Christian leader defined grace in a similar way, “Grace is the empowering presence of God enabling you to be who He created you to be, and to do what He has called you to do.” (James Ryle) As God is the difference-maker in each of our lives, unless we see our desperate need for Him, we’ll try and live without Him. This always leads to un-fulfillment. I was created by God and for God. Only when I acknowledge this can I find my true purpose.

Depending On the Vine
All of us would rather show off our fruit than let others see where we’ve been pruned. But without the pruning we would eventually lose our dependency on the vine. Then, in time, we’d think we are the ones who produced the fruit, rather than the vine being our source. Jesus said, “…every branch that bears fruit (the Father) prunes, that it may bear more fruit…Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:2, 4-5 NKJV) “Prune me Oh God, that I may bear fruit that looks like You.”

True Freedom
We live in a world that mistakes freedom for being free. Sure, we have license to do whatever we want, but there is always a consequence, a cause and effect for every action. My name Francis means “free one.” During my reckless years I was free to do whatever I wanted to. But free love cost me so much, I’m still making payments. Only when the Son of God set me free did I experience God’s promise, “…where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17, NIV) The Bible challenges us, “…you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.” (Galatians 5:13, NLT)

Disappointed With the Church
Have you been disappointed with the Church? I know I have! It reminds me so much of me, at times, its depressing. I wish I was more consistent, more loving, everything God asks me to be. But, often, I’m not. Paul the Apostle described it this way. “I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t… Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 7:18-19, 24-25, NLT) Yes, the church is imperfect, just like the people who are part of it, but the moments we genuinely reflect Jesus give me hope that He who has begun a good work in us will bring it to completion. (Philippians 1:6)

The Sound of Your Voice
Do you like the sound of your voice? God does! The Bible says, “The LORD hears His people when they call to Him for help.” (Psalm 34:17, NLT) Growing up I didn’t like the way my voice sounded. I wanted it to be deeper, richer. Now, I find it ironic that I’m on radio. God’s got a great sense of humor. But it also demonstrates that God is far more gracious than critical. He focuses on what really matters. The Bible says, “The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7, NLT) Maybe, if God likes the sound of my voice, I should like it also. Let me take it one step further. If God likes me, I should like me too.

God’s Known You Forever
We may be just getting to know God, but He’s not just getting to know us. We’ve been in His heart since the beginning of time. God said to the prophet Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart…” (Jeremiah 1:5, NIV) Growing up I felt like an afterthought to my natural father, but that’s never been what my Heavenly Father thinks of me. He’s been waiting for my life to come forth since time immemorial. Each of us is given such a unique part of God’s heart that we actually bring Him pleasure. The Bible says, “…the LORD takes pleasure in his people…” (Psalm 149:4, ESV) Even when I don’t take pleasure in me, I take comfort in the reality that God does.

Loneliness & Fellowship
Are you lonely? If you are, you’re not alone. There’s a woman in Korea who makes $9,000 a month dining with people online. Though studies have shown people who believe in God are less lonely than those who don’t, even Christ-followers can have a broad web of connections through social media but still be lonely. Acts 2:42 clearly states that one of the four essential dimensions in the early church was that they devoted themselves to fellowship: a deep expression of love between Christians. I once asked a man who had a large library of early Christian writings what one aspect of the New Testament church most impacted him. He said, every Sunday believers had “love feasts,” where they spent much of the day breaking bread in fellowship. Sounds like a God idea!

Life’s Great Irony

Do you have father wounds or mother wounds? Though it is unsettling to retrieve the priceless value of past hurts, they are actually the birth pangs of renewed hope. Many of us have an unclaimed lottery ticket from our childhood in the pocket closest to our heart. Even though it will be painful, it is God’s will that what was stolen from us is restored, not just in our own life, but for generations to come. God can use the sadness in our past to help someone in our present. Every healed hurt in our lives offers hope to others. That’s life’s great irony: that every person takes what the devil meant for evil and sees it transformed into good. If we yield to God’s Spirit, nothing is ever wasted in the Kingdom of God.

The Richest Person You Know

Have you ever imagined someone rich dying and leaving you everything? It could happen! Actually, it did happen! 2 Corinthians 8:9 says, “You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.” And then in Romans, “…since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.” (Romans 8:17, NLT) So, the next time you’re a little jealous of someone who has something you don’t, just remember, if you really are a follower of Jesus, you are the richest person you know.

Processing Your Past

We don’t bury our wounds dead. We bury them alive. If you haven’t fully processed your past, it’s not your past! It’s still your present. And you can’t get to your future, if you’re stuck in your present because you’re unwilling to sufficiently unpack your past. But the good news is, there was Someone with you during every hurtful, difficult moment. And, even though it’s hard for you to look at certain events, He’s already provided a marvelous way of escaping the endless pain in order to experience the healing and freedom your heart longs for. This healing process will not only bring you closer to your Creator, but it will provide the insight to free others as well. The Bible says, “…God is faithful…he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13, ESV)

Changing What You Believe

Repentance is not just a change of behavior; it’s a change of belief. I used to think the transformation process meant first changing my actions, but now I begin by focusing on changing what I really believe. It’s a simple principle! If you want to change your behavior, change your beliefs. I can believe the Bible is the Word of God, but it doesn’t mean I’m going to feed on it. In order for God’s Word to really change me, I have to believe it’s even more important than my food; only then do I see it’s true value. In the original language, the Greek word for “repent” is “metanoeo,” which means, “to change your mind.” Only God can do this, but He can’t do it without our surrender. “Jesus, change my behavior by helping me to change what I believe!”

God’s Presence

If you have been born again, then you have experienced the presence of God—and like me, you know God’s presence has been the difference between life and death. That’s why when God told Moses in the wilderness, “My presence will go with you…” Moses responded, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.” (Exodus 33:14-15) Moses was saying ‘God, if you’re not going with me, then I don’t want to go. I already saw that movie. It didn’t end well.’ Either we let Jesus lead us by His Spirit, or we return to following someone who doesn’t know where they’re going. Only God knows what is best for me. I never have, and following Him has been the greatest joy in my life.

Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO)

Perhaps you’ve heard of the pseudo-psychological condition called FOMO, which stands for the Fear Of Missing Out. It is described, tongue and cheek, as “a medical condition of extreme anxiety regarding the fun others could be having without you.” HA! Now, if you’re extroverted, you probably know what I’m talking about. But if you’re an introvert, you may be really glad you missed the party. Either way, all of us want to be included in the best parts of life. And so, I’ve found the absolutely best part of living is getting to know the Creator of Life, all life, past, present and future life, and that’s the Lord Jesus Christ. He’s the God who is life. Accept no substitutes, and you’ll never feel like you’re missing out.

Let No One Deceive You

Jesus said the days would come when there would be leaders who would “…deceive, if possible, even (the elect) God’s chosen ones.” (Matthew 24:24) It’s a scary thought, and why the Bible says, “Let no one deceive you with empty words…” (Ephesians 5:6) So, here is one of the clearest ways of know someone is trying to deceive you with empty words. When they try and diminish the Bible as God’s Word—explaining why it’s wrong when it says this or that…that they have a more advanced moral, philosophical, and spiritual perspective. The truth is “All Scripture is inspired by God…” (2 Timothy 3:16a) and as the Bible says in its final verses, there are grave consequences to those who would attempt to add or subtract from the words of this book. God’s Word is truth, and the only truth that will set you free.

False Summits

Every mountain climber has a goal of reaching the summit. In our pursuit of getting to the top, we often take the most obvious route. Yet, quite often, in thinking we are nearing the peak we find we are actually at what is called a false summit. It’s defined as a precipice we can see directly in front of us, that actually shadows or hides the true summit. At these anti-climactic moments, it is essential to realize that these false summits were placed there by God to keep us dependent upon Him, and trust in what He says is true and not what we feel or see. If we fail to do this, we will be discouraged by what is before us. We must set our sights not on the obvious, but on the ultimate goal: the summit, the highest point God has called us to.

Trusting God’s Motive

Do you feel like God has let you down? All of us will at some point think this. Even Jesus groaned, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34) Yet, attributing a bad motive to God only means we’re not seeing Him clearly. After Adam and Eve sinned, God covered them with animal skins not because he was ashamed of them, but because he wanted to comfort them. This is why the motive we ascribe to God is perhaps the clearest indication of how well we know Him. God is love. God is kind, forgiving and gracious. Is that the God you know? If not, somewhere along the way your perspective of God has been skewed by a wrong attitude or lack of understanding. Guard your responses to life, for they will show if you really know and trust God.

Favor

I was using the word “success” in relation to God with one of my daughters when she said, “You know Dad, even though I know what you mean, a better word to use is the word “favor.” I loved her recommendation, and when I looked up a definition of “favor,” it only got better. Favor is defined as “support or advancement given as a sign of approval, overgenerous preferential treatment, and an act of kindness beyond what is due.” WOW! Isn’t that what God does for us? How would our experience of life change if we viewed every challenge as a promotion, every struggle as an opportunity, and every difficulty as divinely ordained by God. If we really trusted that a loving, gracious, generous God had planned the best life possible for each of us, we’d live in the peace beyond our understanding; fully embracing His favor.

Inches to Miles, Molehills to Mountains

Not every time you and I obey God and step out in faith will we get the desired result. But, I truly believe every time I obey God it will result in my character being formed, my trust and relationship with Him being strengthened, and being further prepared for the greater acts of faith ahead. I would never have believed for the mile, if I had not first believed for the first inch. If I can’t trust God to remove the molehill, I’ll never trust Him to remove the mountain. The Bible says, “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin…” (Zechariah 4:10, NLT) Jesus affirmed this principle as well. “First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens.” (Mark 4:28, NLT)

Unanswered Prayers

Do you feel that God is not answering your prayers? Does He seem far away? All of us will experience this. Yet, our faith is proven, not by answered prayer, but by our willingness to be obedient even when prayers seemed to be unanswered. By the way, every prayer gets answered. Sometimes, the answer is just “No!” But it’s never an angry or indifferent “No!” It’s always a wise, discerning, loving, Fatherly “No. No, my son or daughter, that wouldn’t be best for you! Just trust Me, and down the road you’ll see I had your best interest in mind.” Finally, we should never forget, the purpose of prayer is not to get a desired answer, but to develop the desired relationship with our all-wise, all-loving, all-powerful Creator. And, if we trust God, that prayer always gets answered.

Life’s Frustrations

All of us are frustrated at times when things don’t make sense—when life doesn’t add up. At these less than enjoyable moments we express our frustrations to God and anyone who’ll listen. But I’ve come to the conclusion that if I get fed up with life’s complexities I’m missing the whole point. If everything made sense on Earth, we wouldn’t need to learn to trust God. If everything we experienced made us happy, we wouldn’t need to receive God’s joy, which is never dependent upon what’s happening. If every mishap were understandable, we wouldn’t need peace that goes beyond understanding. Frankly, if our lives were seamlessly blessed, we’d never be stretched to maturity, and learn to be fully dependent and know the God who holds our future in His loving hands.

Prayers of Agreement

Do you ever feel as if you’re trying to persuade God to do the right thing for you or someone you love? Though each of us can relate to this, it’s more of a prayer of unbelief than faith. The Bible tells us clearly who God is: loving, caring, gracious, powerful, our Healer, our Comforter, everything we could ever hope for in a Person. Yet, for some reason, we find ourselves praying silly prayers like, “God, if you want to, can you help so and so; if you so desire, watch over my children,” as opposed to praying strong, clear prayers in agreement with who God says He is. This leads me to the biblically accurate conclusion: the most powerful prayer I can pray is, “God, I agree! I agree with Your Word!”

I’m a Christian too!

Years ago, after speaking in a church in Southern California, my family and I were about to leave a hotel, when I heard someone yell, “Stop him, he stole her purse!” Fifty feet away, I saw the thief run by, with two guys chasing him. I started to run as well, and because they were tired from having run a few blocks already I was able to catch the thief. Sitting on top of him, waiting for the police to arrive, I figured I’d try and tell him about Jesus. Still breathing heavy I said, “I know God brought me to you because I’m a Christian.” Immediately, his eyes got wide and he shot back, “I’m a Christian too!” Though I was startled, considering the age we live in, I wasn’t totally surprised. It brought to light, perhaps the challenge of our day, am I representing Jesus in a way that truly does justice to who He is and the marvelous rescuing work He’s done in my life?

Dig a Ditch

Are you thirsty for God? We all should be. In 2 Kings 3, the armies of Israel and Judah were out of water for seven days. They were literally: dying of thirst. So, they contacted the prophet Elisha, and he told them to ‘Make this valley full of ditches.’ For thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water…this is a simple matter in the sight of the Lord…” “Now it happened in the morning…that suddenly water came…and the land was filled with water.” (2 Kings 3:16-18a, 20, NKJV) Are you out of water? Dig a ditch…sow a seed…obey God’s Word! He’s the God of happy endings. He wants to bless you.

Is God Playing Got-cha?

Do you believe God primarily focuses on the mistakes you’ve made, or is He trying to heal you and protect you from destroying your life? Is He playing, “Got-cha!” or trying to “Help-ya?” When Adam and Eve sinned, God first said to them, “Where are you?” not “What have you done?” God’s far more concerned about our relationship with Him, than anything bad we’ve done. He’s first a Dad who wants to help and protect. That’s why the Bible says, “The LORD keeps you from all harm and watches over your life.” (Psalm 121:7, NLT) Since we all sin, it’s vital that we know when we blow it, we can run to God and not away from Him. We should turn ourselves in, and not wait to be caught. No one cares more about you than Jesus.

Counterfeit Creators

This age is the wild west of moral ambiguity, where everyone does what’s right in their own eyes. But without the biblical compass of good and evil, truth and lies, who determines what’s right and wrong? Without divine discernment, we choose if our babies live or die. We determine if selling the body parts of babies is right or wrong. We decide if lions and whales are more valuable than babies created in the image and likeness of our Creator God. We determine our gender. We choose when we want to die. We judge whom we want to give ourselves to physically. We decide what our eyes should see and what our hearts should embrace. In the end, we become counterfeit creators, created in the image of our vain imaginations, putting our hope in what can never fulfill or come to pass.

Discernment Defined

Ours is the age of little discernment. Compare Noah Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary definition of the word “discern.” He wrote, “to see or understand the difference…between good and evil, truth and falsehood.” What a tremendous definition! Unfortunately, modern editors corrupted it. The 2015 version of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines discern: “to recognize or identify right from wrong.” No longer is it “to see or understand the difference…between good and evil, truth and falsehood.” With good and evil, truth and lies taken out of this definition, we’re left with personal preference, and no resemblance to absolute truth at all. Ironically, this supposed, “new and improved” definition of discern completely lacks discernment. Jesus admonishes each of us, “See that no one leads you astray.” (Matthew 24:4, ESV)

Encyclical By Pope Francis

A recent Encyclical by Pope Francis focused on many things, not just Climate Change. He wrote at length about Creation having a Creator, valuing the difference between masculinity and femininity, looking up from our phones and encountering one another, saving the baby humans, and stopping the cynicism, secularism and immorality. The news media may never report it, but it was biblical food-for-thought. May we each have the courage to affirm what is eternally true, and not just cherry-pick what is politically correct or applauded by society and its ever-changing moral standards. As Jesus promised, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35, ESV) Or, may I add, become passé: God’s truth will never become “out of date.”

Evolution’s Origin

Sir Julian Huxley, the grandson of Thomas Huxley, known as “Darwin’s bulldog,” and brother of Aldous Huxley’s, author of, “Brave New World,” was considered the premier evolutionist in the world. Once, Sir Julian was asked in a TV interview: “Why do you think that Evolution caught on so quickly?” His answer was startling, “We all jumped at the Origin of the Species because (“…the evidence uncovered by Darwin was so scientifically compelling that we were forced by pure reason to accept the facts as true.” Is that what he said? NO!) His response was, “We all jumped at the origin of the species because the idea of God interfered with our sexual mores.” “Our sexual mores” = “our sexual morality,” “our sex lives.” You mean, the origin of Evolution isn’t purely scientific? Hardly, it was anti-religious, anti-moral, and anti-God right from the beginning.

The Satisfied Life

If my life on Earth is not enough to satisfy me, then I’m obviously missing how God wants me to process my life. This is confirmed in the book of 2nd Peter, which says, “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him…” (2 Peter 1:3, NLT) God has given me everything I need to live a satisfied life. Additionally, if my future in Heaven is not captivating enough to make me long to be there, then I am not discerning what Heaven will really be like. 1st Peter adds, “…we have a priceless inheritance…that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.” (1 Peter 1:3-4, NLT) All of this encourages me to love the life God has prepared for me both now and forever.

God’s Good News Covers All Bad News

Have you ever thought: “There are so many bad things happening in my life, nothing good could ever come out of it?” Maybe this next thought will comfort you. The good news of the gospel is good enough to cover all of the bad news in your life. As God is bigger than my problems, His plan for my future won’t just work for my good, it will make me the person I really would want to be if I was in my right mind and trusted Him completely. We make the gospel bad news when we focus on what we’re not, and what God has not yet fulfilled in us. But, we keep the gospel “good news,” as He intended, when we concentrate on who Jesus is, our God and Savior, and not our sins and short-comings.

Character is Not a Consolation Prize

Did you ever wonder: what’s the main goal of being a Christ-follower? If you don’t know what it is, you will never hit the target. So here it is: The primary goal of following Jesus is to become like Him. The fact is—being like Jesus isn’t the pinstripes on a car. It’s the engine. Character is not a consolation prize. It’s the main event. Romans 8:29 says, that God chose us to become like His Son, so that His Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Our becoming like Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s original intention: creating us in the image and likeness of God. So, the next time you complain about your struggles, remember they are helping shape you into the person you were created to be.

Being a Giver

Every person who’s a giver is glad when other people are giving. Every person who, at this point, is a “taker” is evaluating, “Will becoming a giver actually change my life for the good?” “Are the promises of God really true?” “Will He really open the windows of Heaven for me?” “Have the righteous never ever been forsaken?” All these questions can be answered with one scripture. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16, NKJV) Because God so loved…He gave. Not just anything, but His only Son. God’s a giver! That’s why He gives His best, and that’s why those who know Him do the same.

Responding To Loss

Every one of us experiences difficulties and disappointments; even at times, devastating losses. But how we respond to them will determine whether we’ll lead victorious or defeated lives. David, one of the great men in the Bible, suffered numerous setbacks. But perhaps the most crushing was when the wives and children and property of all of his men were stolen at Ziklag. Even after his men threatened to kill him because of it, David refused to give into despair. Instead, the Bible says, he found strength in the LORD his God. (1 Samuel 30:6) Because he trusted God, everything that had been lost was restored, and even more amazingly, a few weeks later, after waiting 17 years, David was made King of Israel. Proving once again that responding well to loss activates the grace and power of God.

Why Ostriches Bury Their Heads

Why do ostriches bury their head in the sand? Is it because they are trying to hide and run away from a fight? Hardly! It’s actually because they’re turning their eggs. They are taking care of their family. They are nurturing the next generation. In the most distracted age of all time, we should never feel we are wasting our time being present and caring for our children and grandchildren. The Bible says, God “…gave his instructions to Israel. He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children, so the next generation might know them–even the children not yet born–and they in turn will teach their own children.” (Psalm 78:5-6, NLT) One of the best ways we can rescue our children from harm is to be present and vigilant in their lives.

Rejecting Insecurities

The other day I was feeling really insecure about my life, and so I began to pray. God then reminded me that when I doubt and minimize my value, I am minimizing Him simultaneously. I may not be everything, but I am certainly something, and unless I identify what that something is, and affirm it, my insecurities will merely demonstrate my lack of trust in the beautiful life God has promised me. God is working in me and through me. I believe it! First, because He believes it, and secondly because I have seen His faithfulness over many decades. The Bible says, “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him.” (Nahum 1:7, NKJV) God, I reject my insecurities and trust you with my life!

Salvation and Sanctification

God has saved us from two things: our sin and ourselves. Salvation saves us from our sin, but sanctification saves us from ourselves. Our trusting in the blood of Jesus frees us from the power of sin and death, but our pursuit of walking in daily dependency upon Him further transforms us into His image and likeness. The Bible says, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:11, ESV) Being “sanctified” means we have been set apart and declared holy because of Christ’s death and resurrection. And being “justified” means God has made us right in His sight. Both mean we have been blessed beyond our wildest dreams.

When You Are Attacked

The other day the enemy attacked me in a vulnerable part of my life. I had accepted a new person on Facebook. Before doing this I always examine their Facebook page to see if they’re safe and then accept the invitation. One woman seemed safe and so I accepted her friend request but when I clicked on an email she sent me alerting me to a new Facebook post, I was bombarded with full-on pornography. I clicked off immediately, but realized once again: if my enemy can’t get me to give up, he’ll try and get me to give in. The Bible says, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) And advises us to, “Resist the devil and he will flee.” (James 4:7) Wise words for each of us who want to finish well.

Promises or Problems

Are you feeling overwhelmed by your problems? At times, all of us do. But it’s at these vulnerable moments we need to remember God’s promises and not obsess over our problems. Often times, God won’t even address our problems, because He wants to remind us about His promises. The truth is, in order for breakthroughs to happen in life, we have to consciously choose to get our eyes off our problems and focus on God’s promises. And the only way we can know what they are is if we spend time each day in God’s Word. The Bible says, “…the word of God is living and powerful…” (Hebrews 4:12a, NKJV) and in it “… he has granted to us his precious and very great promises…so that through them we may become partakers of the divine nature.” (2 Peter 1:4a, ESV)

God’s Protection

An army friend who did four tours in Iraq and Afghanistan said: “I’ve seen temperatures over 130 degrees Fahrenheit.” Then he added something quite profound. “The wind always comes from the sunny-side, so you have to create shade in order to be protected.” Hmm? “…create shade!” That made me think: the wind of God’s Spirit is always in the challenges of life, when difficulties heat up. I’ve found the best way to block out the scorching heat of the day is to find shade in the Word and presence of God. King David wrote, “I trust in the Lord for protection.” (Psalm 11:1, NLT) Today, find some shade in the presence of God, under the shade of His Word, “… taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” (Ephesians 6:16, NKJV)

Living Water

A friend of mine was sharing how plants that grow near contaminated or stagnant water have a higher risk of containing toxic contaminants as well as invisible bacteria or parasites. In other words, don’t eat food near water that is contaminated or stagnant. That made me think. What are the sources of my spiritual food? Do I let contaminated entertainment fill my mind? Is my spiritual life stagnant or vibrant? Am I flowing with the Spirit of God or standing still waiting for something to happen? Jesus promised, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:38, NKJV) Jesus, You are the Bread of Life. Help me to feast on Your Word every day, that I may live a safe and abundant life.

Losing Hope For Our Future

Our setbacks won’t define us, but how we respond to them will. Tests always bring out what and who we’re trusting in. If you’re discouraged right now, it means you’re being overwhelmed by your circumstances. It means, in some way, you’re not trusting God. God has never lost hope for our future. And only He knows the tests we will need to face in order to live fulfilled lives. Don’t be surprised if the season you are closest to walking in your destiny is simultaneously the lowest point in your life. We have to get creamed before we can get crowned. The Bible says, “…since we are His children, we are His heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share His glory, we must also share His suffering…” (2 Timothy 2:12) We’ll lose hope for our future, when we lose hope in God.

Hearing What You’ve Never Heard

We all tend to place the new that God is doing in us in old, familiar contexts. But that only produces false comfort. We put new wine in old wineskins. In Matthew 17, on the Mount of Transfiguration, the disciples wanted to build a tabernacle or temple…an old, familiar wineskin. But, the temple of God was now in man. They didn’t need an external house for God, they needed an internal relationship. So, the Father had to speak from Heaven and basically say, “Hey, this is my Son, be quiet and listen to Him.” The Creator of the Universe isn’t interested in repeating or duplicating anything. Whenever we think we know what God’s about to say, we should be quiet and listen because we’re about to hear something we’ve never heard before.

Acceptance Before God

Are you trying to live a godly life? That’s wonderful! But it won’t help you earn God’s favor? The Bible says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9, NKJV) We don’t merit God’s favor by living a godly life. We already have His complete love and acceptance when we receive the gift He purchased for us, a gift that cost Jesus His life when He died on a cross in our place, something that lasts forever: it’s called eternal life. John 17:3 says, “…this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” Sure, I want to live a godly life, and I pursue this every day, but my acceptance before God comes through Christ alone.

Something Brand New

There is a great verse in the Book of Isaiah that encourages me so much, especially in The Message paraphrase Bible: “Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert…” (Isaiah 43:18-19, The Message) I love that! We all spend way too much time dwelling on the past; a past that’s covered and forgiven by the blood of Jesus. Sure, I’ve had to look at my past in order to let Jesus heal me, but I don’t allow the enemy to rub my nose in my mistakes and failings. Once I’ve repented of them, I focus on the good that Jesus has done in spite of my shortcomings, not what I’ve done wrong.

Gratitude

Are you grateful for what Jesus has done and is doing in your life? I am! If we’re not grateful for what we have, we will eventually lose what we have. We will lose sight of it…touch with it and connection to it. Gratitude connects us to eternal realities. Only gratitude leads to true joy. The Bible says, “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NLT) Happiness depends on happenings. Joy depends on perspective. When we are the keepers of our gratitude, we are then the reapers of our joy. If we cultivate an attitude of gratitude, then no one will be able to steal our joy. “For the joy set before Him, Jesus even endured the cross.” (Hebrews 12:2)

Shaking and Awakenings

Are you being shaken? I know I am. I believe God shakes us to awake us! In fact, great shakings usually happen right before great awakenings. In the Book of Judges, Gideon felt he was the weakest and the least, and yet God said He would be with him to make up the difference. When Gideon faced a massive Midianite army, he initially only had 32,000 men. But God thought even that was too many and so reduced it to a mere 300. God often contradicts what we think would make sense because only He knows what should happen. He’s chosen, out of all possibilities, the best plan to bring about His desired purpose for us. We don’t need our circumstances to change in order to have peace; all we need to do is trust God.

Giving Up Too Soon

Recently, I led a man to Jesus who the week before had put his neck on a railroad track to take his life, and only lifted it up right before the train passed in front of him. He’s the father of three young children. Jesus said, “In this world you will have tribulation!” (John 16:33) He wasn’t overstating this. Life is really tough! Then Jesus added, “But…take heart…take courage…cheer up…I have overcome so that you can overcome.” “I’m victorious so you can be victorious…” Those were not empty words. Because Jesus conquered sin and the death sin produces, we can be “…more than conquerors through Him who loved us and gave His life for us.” (Romans 8:37) Don’t give up too soon! Find the victory behind God’s promises.

Forgiveness and Gratitude

In Luke 7:44-47 of The Message paraphrase Bible, Jesus said, “Do you see this woman? I came to your home; you provided no water for my feet, but she rained tears on my feet and dried them with her hair. You gave me no greeting, but from the time I arrived she hasn’t quit kissing my feet. You provided nothing for freshening up, but she has soothed my feet with perfume. Impressive, isn’t it? She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful. If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal.” If the greatest blessing we could ever receive is being pardoned…forgiven for our sins, then the most appropriate response to this greatest of all gestures is to actually BE grateful!

Getting God’s Attention

Do you believe that when you pray you are finally getting God’s attention? Actually, the opposite is true! Whenever we pray, it’s because God has finally gotten our attention. That’s what happened in the Upper Room at Pentecost. The 120 disciples were gathered there united in prayer because God had, at last, gotten their complete attention. God only finishes what He authors. That’s why we are never the scriptwriters, but we can be what He always intended us to be: script doers. In the Bible it says, “…don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” (James 1:22, NLT) “Jesus, You have my complete attention! I want Your will, and not my own. Help me to be a doer of the Word and not merely a hearer, deceiving myself.”

Character Is Not a Consolation Prize

What are you chasing after in life: money, fame, security, peace of mind? If the goal of life is to become like our Creator, then Christ-like character is what we should be emulating. Character is not a consolation prize. It’s the main event! We were created in the image and likeness of God in order to become like Jesus. The Bible says, “Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.” (Philippians 2:4-5, NLT) Being like Jesus is the fulfillment of being created in God’s image; and the fruit of Him being the first fruits of God’s new creation. Don’t chase after what lasts for only a moment. Pursue what lasts forever…becoming like Jesus; it is the greatest honor in life and the only life worth pursuing.

How the Devil Lies To Us

There are three primary ways the devil lies to us. First, about who God is! Then about what God says; and thirdly, about who God says we are. We can see from His beautiful creation that God is beautiful. And the fact He doesn’t boast in His creation with light shows saying, “This morning’s sunrise is brought to you by God,” demonstrates He’s humble. This beautiful, humble God died on a cross so that we could be engrafted into His marvelous family for eternity. He says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” (Jeremiah 31:3) So, the next time the devil tries to lie to you, remind him of who God is, what He says, and who you are in Him: a forgiven, loved and cherished child of the most-high God!

Living Grateful

Are you grateful? Better yet, do you live grateful? Harvard professor Shawn Achor said in his book, “The Happiness Advantage,” that training your brain to be “positive first” yields the greatest success. In fact, 75% of your success on the job can be traced, not to your intelligence, but to your optimism. His research shows the importance of focusing every day on three events that have occurred in the last 24 hours for which you are grateful. Doing this makes a positive imprint on your brain. Gratitude connects us to eternal realities and is perhaps the clearest indication that we are seeing our lives as God intended. Only gratitude leads to true joy. The Bible says, “Always be joyful. Be thankful in all circumstances…”    (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NLT)

Shaping Worries Into Prayers

Would you like to get a victory over worry? Here’s a sure fire way to do it! I love how the Message Bible says, “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” (Philippians 4:6-7) WOW! “…shape worries into prayers.” What a marvelous concept! I’ve found, petitions require trust and praise requires gratitude! When I allow God to shape my worries into prayers the wholeness of God begins to shape my life. Cast off the worries of life, because our worries are temporary, but our worship is eternal!

The Best Alarm Clocks

The greatest blessing we could ever receive is being pardoned…forgiven for our sins. And the most appropriate response to this greatest of all gestures is being grateful! The Message Bible paraphrase says, “Pray diligently. Stay alert, with your eyes wide open in gratitude.” (Colossians 4:2) We are not awake until we are grateful! We are actually sleeping through our rescue. So, how do I get fully awake in order to live gratefully? I’ve found that the Word of God and the presence of God are my best alarm clocks. They wake me up every day. Focusing on my problems will lull me to sleep. Feasting on God’s promises wakes me up to eternal realities. I want to live awake. “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Ephesians 5:14b, ESV)

God’s Protection

One of my favorite verses in the Bible encourages me that no matter what troubles I’m going through God will protect me. It’s found in Isaiah 43. “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” (Isaiah 43:1-3, NLT) WOW! What a promise! When the enemy tries to focus you on your problems, set your eyes on God’s promises. Our problems are temporary, while His promises are eternal.

Honored

Do you feel dishonored? Many people feel dishonored by the people closest to them: a parent, a child, a spouse, or just society in general. It seems every day we hear of a person lashing out against someone whom they believe has dishonored them personally, or their nation, race, religion or family. Sadly, dishonored people tend to dishonor others. In our often cynical, sarcastic, polarized, condescending, bullying, culture, it’s not hard to feel dishonored. Yet, honoring is the invisible weapon God has given every one of us to be on an equal level with everyone else. It’s hard to learn from someone you resent or envy. We learn best from people we respect. So, do what the Bible says and you can change your world, “Honor everyone.” (1 Peter 2:17, ESV) “Respect everyone.” (1 Peter 2:17, NLT) “Treat everyone you meet with dignity.” (1 Peter 2:17, The Message) You can respect everyone without respecting what they believe.

Making Friends of Enemies

Perhaps the most important takeaway from of our past is learning from our mistakes while appreciating the grace and forgiveness of God. Yet, we all struggle to learn sufficiently. It reminds me of a sad reality spoken about in the Book of Judges. We’ll have to live with the enemy we refuse to drive out. When it comes to the inner battle we each face in our soul, making friends with enemies never ends well. If we don’t resist the devil, we’ll eventually make friends with him. The Bible says, “…resist the devil, and he will flee.” The devil would love us to believe that evil is really not that bad, and good is, likewise, not that good. But the only truth that will set a person free is aligning our lives with God’s reality, which is all that will ultimately last.

What Miracles Are We Missing

We have all seen miracles. But if we refuse to believe them or just plain forget they took place, we’ll lose their full potential. For it is the miracles we have each experienced that give us faith to believe for the miracles yet to come. “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us…” (Ephesians 3:20, ESV) “For nothing will be impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37, ESV) “Jesus, what miracles are we missing today? Open our eyes to see who You really are: the God of miracles. It is Your nature to do the impossible. And it is Your will for us to know You and see You as You really are. For only then can we see Your beauty. Only then can we discover the greater works You promised.”

Key To Happiness

A study was done on the effects a major life change has on a person’s happiness. Half of the people tested were big lottery winners. The other half suffered severe injuries in bad car accidents. It was determined that a few weeks after these drastic life-changing events took place, both groups were equally happy and satisfied with their lives. Thus proving: winning a million dollars is about as much fun as getting hit by a bus. Hmm? Who are the healthiest people you know: the spoiled or entitled ones, or those who have responded to the challenges of life by trusting God? Only by trusting the Author of life can we find fulfillment, and living a fruitful life is never about what we have or don’t have, it’s about how we respond to what we have or don’t have. Only then can godliness with contentment be a great gain.

Born Again…Again?

The only life worth living is the one God has planned for you, and the only way to experience that life is through a personal, intimate relationship with your Creator. Jesus said, “I am life!” (John 14:6) and the only people who believe Jesus was overstating what He would provide for them, are those who don’t yet know Him. If you have tasted and seen that the Lord is good, you know that His goodness is one that surpasses all expectation. Forty-three percent of Americans say they have been born again, but only thirteen percent have a truly transforming faith. My question is: what good is a faith that doesn’t change you? If we say we’ve been born again, but don’t have a transformed life, then may I suggest being born again…again? Though it may sound funny, get “born again” as many times as it takes to see your life change.

Lovely People Love

It’s been said, the secret of being loved is being lovely, and the secret of being lovely is learning to love others. There are no lovely, self-centered people, and we can’t even fully love until we’ve received God’s love. So, what’s the solution? Let the God who is love be the Lord of your life. Let the love He has for you, flow through you to others. The Bible says, “We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.” (1 John 4:16, NLT) “Jesus, so live in me, that when people see me, they, in some tangible way, are seeing You…Your love…Your kindness…Your selfless heart for them.”

Servant Leaders

If your goal in life is to lead people, you’re going to be frustrated, because only a few people want to be led. But if you aim to be a servant, you’ll never lack for followers. Jesus said in Mark 9:35 (ESV), “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” No person is ever honored for what they have received. Honor is the reward of those who give. God is a giver, and He searches the whole earth to find someone like Him. And when He does, He blesses them. “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45, ESV) Want people to follow you? Lay down your life for them. Never forget, there is a servant leader sitting on a throne in Heaven.

Encourage One Another

A minister in Florida had a funeral conducted for himself while he was still living. The printed order of service gave his explanation, “This, my funeral, is being held because I have no pleasure in words I cannot hear, flowers I cannot smell, and friends I cannot see.” After the service one man said he would never compliment his pastor because it might make him proud. Really? More likely, it would’ve encouraged him. Flattery is always wrong, but a genuine word of affirmation is always right. 1 Corinthians 12:26 says, “…if one member is honored, all rejoice together.” When was the last time you honored someone who has helped you, by encouraging them? “Speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out…no one left behind.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11, The Message)

Exhorting One Another

Did you know that none of us can fulfill our destiny, without other people? Pastor Bill Hybel’s, when he was the chaplain of the Chicago Bears Football Team, would do a Bible study for the players. One day, he walked into the locker room and found them critiquing one another while watching films of the previous game. They were laying aside pride and asking other people to tell them the truth. They realized that they needed others to help them improve. We all do! The Bible says in Hebrews 3:13, “But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called today, that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” I can only fulfill my destiny if I let God and other people speak into my life.

The FUI’s

Every since I was a baby Christian, I’ve had to deal with three consistent attacks of the enemy, especially in my finances. They are Fear, Unbelief and Ignorance. “F” for Fear, “U” for Unbelief, and “I” for Ignorance. I call them the FUI’s. “Ah FUI! I’m afraid I won’t have enough if I obey God!” “Ah FUI! I can’t believe God will provide for my needs if I obey Him!” “Ah FUI! I don’t believe God’s Word asks me to obey!” They are the wasps, gnats and mosquitoes that attack my life. Annoying little buggers that I must continually swat and resist. Jesus said it clearly, “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full–pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” (Luke 6:38, NLT)

No Coincidences

Coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous. But it’s never His way of staying distant. The sooner we eliminate words like “accident” and “lucky” from our vocabulary, the sooner we will take the blinders off our spiritual eyes. We are eternal, spirit beings having a temporary earthly experience. Don’t be distracted by what you see. Be committed to what you can’t see, and yet lasts forever. There are no coincidences in any of our lives, just divinely scripted, perfectly crafted, absolutely majestic moments that only a loving God could orchestrate. Love never fails, and God is love. God’s plans for us are always for our good; to fill our future with hope. (Jeremiah 29:11) Commit to seeing your life from God’s perspective, trust Him every moment, and eventually you will see His genius.

Chasing Success

All of us at times fail, and even though these failures can be devastating, if we process them well, God will show us their true value. The Bible says, “…we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” (2 Corinthians 4:18, NLT) So, in order to see the value of your failures, believe what God says about you, that, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1, ESV) that, “…in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37, ESV) and lastly, “We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.” (1 John 4:16, NLT)

My Response

Do you battle with anger? Proverbs 16:32, says, “Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” In every area of life, our response to the unexpected is infinitely more important than what others do to us. If the thief ALWAYS comes to steal, kill and destroy, then responding like the world, the flesh and the devil will always lead to death. Jesus counters the devil’s lies with the truth. He said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly!” (John 10:10, ESV) Perhaps, the fruit of God’s Spirit we ignore the most, self-control, is the one that will set us free. Do what Jesus said, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for”…even if it’s self-control. (Matthew 7:7, NLT)

Societies Drifting

As society continues to drift further away from reality, only God’s Word is the truth that can set someone free. Everywhere, people are creating their own version of good and evil, truth and lies, but the “new” morality is merely repackaged, “old” immorality. Sadly, far from being profound or liberating, it is the perfect recipe for deception. It is: “man playing God.” From Rebellious Anarchists to Pleasure-Seeking Hedonists…Selfish Capitalists to Naïve Socialists, lack of discernment will always lead to deception and destruction. Jesus prayed in John 17:17, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” Where are you and I playing God in our lives?

Jesus Still Weeps

When you invite God into your pain, you will see His compassionate heart. The Bible says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15, ESV) Jesus knows your pain…your heartache! On Earth, “Jesus wept,” (John 11:35) and He still weeps with us even now. He models the good news that there is a God who cares. At times, we think we need to come to God with our “Sunday-Best,” when He is actually just as happy to see us in our “Monday-Worst.” What we really want to know is: “God, do You know what You’re doing with my life?” Believe that! God knows what to do with the broken pieces of your life.

God Is Speaking To You

Do you believe God is speaking to you? He is, I believe, every day! God speaks when He is about to accomplish His purposes. For, what God initiates, He always completes. He reveals Himself to increase our faith and trust in Him. When God speaks, you will recognize His inner voice, which will always seem unique to you. It is so divinely personal; you are convinced you have His complete attention. That’s because you do! God wants to communicate so clearly you will always know it is Him speaking. And never forget, God’s revelations are always designed to bring you into a love relationship with Him. Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice.” God is speaking to you today. You’ll be blessed as you hear and obey.

Why We Need Faith

When God speaks, I will need faith to respond. Faith is the confidence that what God has promised or said will come to pass. Before I call my family, others, or even myself to exercise faith, I must be sure I have heard a word from God. When God lets me know what He wants to do through me, it will be something only He can do. The God who calls me is also the One who will enable me to do His will. Waiting on Him is always worth the wait. Fervent prayer will be one of the most demanding things I ever do. Obedience is my moment of truth. But only He should get the glory. God will never give me an assignment He will not enable me to complete.

The Real American Dream

You would think from listening to some people’s view of America, the Founding Father’s primary concern was to keep religion, and specifically Christianity, as far away as possible from projecting its views on society. But, if you spend any time examining what the founding leaders of America really said, you will have to conclude the exact opposite. As our Declaration of Independence so eloquently proclaims, “…all men are created equal…” and “…they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights…” The fact is…America is not great because we think we’re great. America is only great because of God! May we follow the advice of Scripture, “Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34, NLT)

Swimming Upstream

A hero has been defined as “somebody who commits an act of remarkable bravery or who has shown great courage and strength of character.” (World English Dictionary) The Christian worldview has always been distained by the world. Most people are tossed back & forth by the world’s values. They succumb to the peer pressure of the culture. In the first century, when Paul arrived as a prisoner in Rome, he met with Jewish leaders who promptly said, concerning his being a Christ-follower, “…we know that it is spoken against everywhere.” (Acts 28:22) More and more, this seems to be the case today. But, know this for certain, as “darkness gets darker it only makes the light that much brighter.” As D. L. Moody once said, “You can’t talk cream and live skim milk.”

Choosing the Difficult

God will never force you to do anything. Love necessitates freedom to choose. Every decision Jesus made was His choice. He said, “No one takes My life from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.” (John 10:18) Jesus could have called down 12 legions of angels to rescue Him in His greatest hour of need. In ancient Rome, a legion was an army division of three to six thousand soldiers. So, 72,000 mighty angels could have rescued Jesus, but He chose what was most inconvenient and most difficult. Don’t be surprised if He asks you to do the same. I’ve found this to be true. But, what is also true is that I have never regretted taking the hard, obedient road.

Jesus, the Greatest Hero

All of us celebrate heroes, whether they are real or imagined. From mythological or comic book heroes, to actual heroes who put themselves in harms way to protect our families or nation. But, who is the greatest hero of all time? It would have to be Jesus, and for the following reasons: though He was God come to Earth, Jesus didn’t defend Himself, but instead gave His life defending others. Because of Christ’s selfless love, He was willing to call us “friends” when we were His enemies. And lastly, Jesus was willing to suffer a death others deserved; suffering, the Bible says, more than any man for our sake. (2 Corinthians 5:21) Yet, as brutal as Christ’s physical suffering was, it was nothing compared to becoming sin for us, and dying to pay the penalty that we deserved.

True Worship

Jesus said, you must, “…love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” But what would that look like? I believe one of the amazing experiences Jesus had, perfectly describes true worship. The Bible tells the story in the Luke 7. “When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.” (Luke 7:37-38) Her actions sublimely demonstrated what total, complete, abandoned worship looks like! How grateful I am for what Jesus has done for me is best seen in how I worship Him.

My Great Dane Story

I used to go for walks at night, to walk and pray. One night, around midnight, I was walking in my neighborhood, and all of a sudden, a man opened his front door to let his dog, a massive Great Dane, out. Immediately, this dog, as big as a horse, ran out, leapt over a hedge and made a beeline for me. It happened so quickly, all I could do was freeze. He then jumped up, put his giant paws on my shoulders and without missing a beat licked my face, from chin to forehead. Then, just as quickly, he turned around, did his thing on the ground and went back into his house. It was unbelievable! But, as I reflect on it now, there’s probably no better example of the Bible verse that says, “Stand still and see the salvation of God.” (Exodus 14:13)

A True Lover

The world glamorizes love, and even extols those they think are great lovers. But, what does a true lover look like? Wouldn’t it be someone who loved unconditionally, who forgave others unequivocally, and who refused to consider anyone un-loveable? The key quality of true love is that it’s not primarily designed to benefit you. True love thinks of others first. Therefore, we can never represent the God who is love if we think we’re better than other people. None of us are better than anyone else. If we say, we’re not that big of a sinner, it only means we’re comparing ourselves to other people on this Earth, when the significance of our sin only comes to light when we compare ourselves to our Creator. In which case, we have all sinned and are in need of God, our Savior.