Practical Faith

Power to preach

2009-12-09T10:46:00.000-07:00

Moving around North America gave us opportunity to experience many different churches and church leadership styles. Perhaps my love for variety and change helped, but in all of those moves, I’ve rarely become disenchanted with the preacher.

It helps to pick the right church in the first place. In one move, it took several months to find it. We tried to be discerning rather than fussy and eventually found one where the Bible was preached and the congregation was paying attention.

We always hoped for skill in the pulpit. Preaching is important. I’ve heard plagiarized sermons, sermons that were read, and sermons that had no basis in Scripture at all. I’ve heard poor preaching that impacted my heart, and good preaching that seemed empty. Sometimes a complex sermon offers a great challenge, but the challenge can also come from a simple message. Preaching is a mystery.

For all this, I’ve concluded that hearing a good sermon is not about the messenger or style of preaching. It is more about the message, but even a well-written message falls flat if the power of the Holy Spirit is not in it.

What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice. (Philippians 1:18)

The word “preach” often means “to proclaim with authority.” The message is important, but the authority behind it makes the difference between a powerful sermon and one that falls flat. Jonathan Edwards used to read his sermons without a great deal of speaking ability, yet the power of the Holy Spirit used what he said to bring sinners to their knees in a great revival.

Paul, as the verse indicates, knew that even a selfishly motivated preacher can still be used of God. God can also use those who fumble with their words, and those whose speaking is weak. This is possible because the truth, and the authority behind the truth, is more powerful than the package it comes in.

I remember sharing the gospel with a woman in California. I felt as if I’d bungled the message and was amazed that this woman received Christ and was saved. Later, I asked her what had been said that touched her heart. From her response, I realized that it was not my presentation that got through to her, but the power of the Holy Spirit.

Paul didn’t care who received the credit, but that the gospel was preached. Most Christians think that way too. When we hear that the cause of Christ is being furthered and His name is proclaimed, we rejoice. Yet far too often, we critique the preacher instead of being thankful that Christ is proclaimed.

Sometimes I’d like to give someone a good sermon, but I know that my zeal to “set them straight” has nothing to do with the power of God. Preaching is vital, but anyone can preach. As Ephesians 3:21 says, God is “able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.”

I know that the power the Bible is talking about is not in my ability or in the ability of any preacher. Oratory or debating skills do not matter. For the message to get through to the human heart, the sermon must be infused by and delivered in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Support your pastor

2009-12-08T11:21:00.000-07:00

Pastors can struggle in ways that their congregations may not realize. In our travels, we’ve found ourselves in several churches. For some reason, perhaps because the pastoral staff knew we would not be there long, we found ourselves taken into their confidence and sought out for encouragement and advice.

Today’s devotional reflects that leaders are targets. The pastor who wrote it finds it painful that Paul endured opposition. He even said, “At my first defense (speaking of his first trial in Rome) no one stood with me, but all forsook me” (2 Timothy 4:16). This happened to Paul, a godly man who was being obedient to God!

On another occasion, Paul wrote to the Philippians and said of Timothy, “I have no one like-minded . . .” (Philippians 2:20). He felt there was just one person at that time that he could depend on. This is scary for the average person, even worse for someone in leadership.

Despite this sense of being alone, Paul was a positive thinker. He could see the hand of God in even the worst situations. Just before writing that only Timothy shared his mind on things, he wrote about his imprisonment:

But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice. (Philippians 1:12-18)

It was not Paul’ personality or anything about him that made him a target; it was his goal. All the unseen spiritual forces of evil are against the preaching of the gospel. The wickedness in this world opposes the message that will deliver people from sin and from the clutches of the evil one. No Christian leader is exempt from this opposition. No Christian layperson is either.

I’ve experienced some of this negativity during the past couple of days. God gave me the opportunity to share Christ with a person that I’ve known since my teens. She is of the opinion that she is a Christian, yet she does not know forgiveness, or have the assurance of eternal life. She is totally in the dark about redemption and grace. To her, Christianity is a “nice” kind of life in which she protects herself from unpleasantness, including the avoidance of any discussion about sin and repentance.

This time she asked me if I had any memorized prayers I could share with her. I told her that my prayer life was not like that, but more of an intimate conversation with a dear Friend. I shared how Jesus came into my life and changed me. I used a couple verses from the Bible, but my desire was not to “preach” but to share with her how the Lord saved me.

This was the second or third time I’ve shared with her. Both times it went right over her head. I’m reminded that Jesus said for some, when the seed of the Word is sown, the devil comes and snatches it away. The spiritual enemy has her happily living in her weeds and thinking they are sweet flowers, and he wants to keep things that way.

But he also doesn’t want me to talk about Jesus. I felt like he was hitting me again and again with sad, deflated, and hopeless kinds of thoughts, stuff I would not otherwise be thinking. This comes with a sense of spiritual oppression is like a black cloud and heavy.

All this supports the valid point of my devotional reading. If I get that sort of stuff thrown at me for sharing Christ, what happens to Christian pastors and leaders who are expected to do it all the time? Far too many Christians have “roast pastor” for Sunday dinner and have no idea how spiritual forces make their lives a battlefield. All of us ought to be on our knees praying for our pastors and others in leadership ministries.

Who am I pleasing?

2009-12-07T09:46:00.000-07:00

I’m told there is a dearth in North America of biblical preaching. Even some of the giants are falling, men who normally held fast to the truths of Scripture are now waffling and trying to make the message more “appealing” to their listeners.

My sister told me yesterday that her pastor preached a sermon on a particular sin and said during his message that he knew only two other preachers who would dare to preach on the same topic. Can this failure to proclaim what the Bible says about this or any sin be stamped “people-pleasing” or are the reasons behind it more complicated? I don’t know. I do know that this is not a new thing.

Today’s devotional verse is insightful. Paul is in prison for preaching the gospel. He writes about his experience and says that he is glad the gospel continues to be preached even though,

Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: the former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains. (Philippians 1:15-16)

Even in the early church, some were jealous of Paul. They thought if they took over his job, they would “win” some sort of invisible competition and make themselves look better than the apostle, as if they were better because they never wound up in jail like he did? For them, it was more about looking good and being popular than proclaiming Christ.

After reading another chapter in Lou Priolo’s book, Pleasing People: How not to be an “approval junkie” I spent some time thinking about his topic and my own motivations. I came to the conclusion that, for me at least, pleasing-people is not an accurate description. I’m more interested in pleasing myself. At my sinful worst, I really don’t care what people think as long as I look good, and apart from Christ, I will not go out of my way to do anything to make them happy.

Of course Jesus died to redeem me from that attitude. He offers me His life and the Holy Spirit to change that selfishness into “love thy neighbor as thyself.” While doing so requires my cooperation, His kind of selfless love is His doing. I am not up to it without His grace and without that new life He gave me.

In our many relocations, we have gone to many churches and experienced many kinds of preaching and preachers. Some are gracious and like Jesus most of the time. They know how to speak the truth, surely in love, but without waffling. On the other hand, some have been an on and off mix of flesh and Spirit, confusing the congregation when selfish ambition or arrogance gets thrown into their ministry.

If the preacher is using the Bible and faithful to declare what it says, God is honored and the church enjoys a measure of health. When this does not happen, me-ism, and self-pleasing that looks like people-pleasing are usually present too, and in the long run, no one is pleased.

This is a warning to me and to everyone. Putting my own interests first can take many forms, but if left unchecked, it will have an impact on all that I do. God put me here not to please myself, not even to be a people-pleaser, but to please and glorify Him.

Feeble excuses

2009-12-06T12:04:00.000-07:00

Why is sharing personal faith so difficult? I know what I believe about Jesus Christ is true. I also know that people who reject Christ are in eternal peril. I care about those around me. Why should I hold back from telling them how they can have forgiveness, eternal life and a wonderful relationship with God?

Last night I started reading a book by Lou Priolo called Pleasing People: How not to be an “approval junkie.” The title might be light and catchy, but the content is not. In the preface, the author warns that this book will be convicting and biblical. I read chapter one. It is.

People-pleasing is first a pride thing. I want people to like me. As I closed the book and turned out the light last night, I asked myself why. Why does it matter? I want to please God more? Or do I? All I could come up with was that having people like me feels good and makes me look good. In other words, my reasons are all about me. That is hardly bottom-line spirituality.

This morning, my devotional guide offers a verse that ties in with what I read last night and adds another facet to this fear. Paul tells about his experience in jail and writes this:

Most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. (Philippians 1:14)

In their hostile world, speaking about Jesus Christ could mean their freedom or even their life. Paul was in jail because he preached about Jesus. Most people will do what they can to avoid such physical confinement, yet as these believers saw Paul in jail and watched him remain faithful to share the gospel, they realized that God was still with him. As a result, most of them lost their fear of the repercussions and opened their mouths.

Most of them. That phrase catches my eye. It tells me that their fear about proclaiming Christ ran deep. The example of Paul helped most of them, but there were some who were still afraid. They knew that God was blessing Paul, but perhaps wondered if God would do the same for them. After all, Paul was a spiritual giant, a leader. Perhaps those in the “less than most” group were ordinary people, like me.

I could try to imagine being there, and imagine which group I would I have been in — the “most” of them, or the few that were still deeply self-protective? Such imagining is unproductive. I must examine myself in the light of what God asks of me right now, in this century, and in the situations where I find myself today.

Logic tells me that no one will throw me in jail for telling others about Christ. No one will haul me before a judge, and most people will not even be openly nasty if they don’t like it. My limited experience tells me that a few are interested in Jesus, not many, but a few. Most are indifferent or even clueless. Their eyes glaze over because they do not get it. They politely change the subject. Is that rejection? Not according to most definitions.

Logic says my pride is pointless. Logic says my fears are groundless. The Holy Spirit tells me that my silence is faithless and my selfishness is disobedience.

I’m rapidly backing myself into a Cross.

Stepping Down

2009-12-05T12:46:00.000-07:00

While my former pastor is a great Bible expositor and teacher, I’m thinking pastors can write devotionals for pastors, but much of the comments I’ve read this year have little to do with my life as a stay-home wife, mother, and grandmother.

Not to be hard on him, the same goes for me. I write what I experience and those who read it and are out in the working world could easily respond, “That’s easy for her to say.” Their lives are filled with far different trials, temptations and opportunities than mine.

This morning I read how Paul was under house arrest in Rome. What parts of his experience connect to where I am and what I do?

Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him. (Acts 28:30-31)

Soldiers “came to him” as his guards, friends visited, and maybe the curious arriving on his doorstep. His mission was to preach and teach about Jesus, which he did. There is nothing here about how he lived. Did he do his own cooking? Who cleaned his rented house? Where did the necessities of life come from? Did he have neighbors who got annoyed if one of his friends parked their chariot across their driveway? Who took out the garbage?

This reminds me of a commercial on our local cable stations for a woman’s network. The first part shows a day in the life of an “ordinary” woman. By the time she deals with breakfast, kids, traffic, her job, more traffic, and supper, she is a basket case. The next part is a “W-woman” who is in a fantasy world with handsome men, maids, dinner parties, designer clothes, swimming pools, tennis and no stress at all.

No one in their right mind would deny that the W-woman’s life is appealing, but unless a person is wealthy and not too bright, who lives like that? Ordinary people have chicken pox, charred toast, spilled milk, grass stains, and arguments. Spouses snore and leave their dirty socks on the bathroom floor. We get sick, run out of gas, forget to pay bills, and have to shovel snow (at least where I live).

Today’s devotional comments say that readers may find ourselves thinking that we cannot go and preach the gospel, be an evangelist, or a Bible teacher. We are stuck with a job and so on. He’s got that right. Then he says it doesn’t matter if someone is chained to a desk, an assembly line, a classroom, a car, or a sales position because these are opportunities to further the gospel. Easy to say from someone who has not been there.

Years ago I read a long essay in Harper’s by a reporter who decided to ‘be there’ so she quit her well-paying, secure job and went to work as a waitress. She experienced all that low-income people experience, plus insults, rip-offs, and a host of other indignities that she knew nothing of in her former job. It was one of the best pieces of journalism I’ve ever read. Whatever else happened, she became a far better writer because she stepped down from her perch.

Only one person has ever done a total job of stepping down to everyone else’s level. He was royalty, King of kings, rich beyond compare. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

The reporter maybe wanted a story or was tired of her jaded experiences, but Jesus didn’t do it for any reasons that are appealing. Instead, He humbled Himself and became a man, even the lowest of the low in His birth, life and death, so He could defeat sin and selfishness for all of us. He was obedient totally — and it killed Him.

Now He is in glory, but He also lives in me. He knows from being here (here as a man, and here living now in His people) what ordinary life is all about. He may say I can use Paul as a pattern, but more often I hear Him tell me to not worry about who I am, or even what I do. Instead, He asks me to just trust Him, relax and do what seems even more impossible; let Him shine through me.

A good prescription from another shut-in

2009-12-04T17:00:00.000-07:00

Being ill and shut-in these past few days is probably the closest that I will get to identifying with the Apostle Paul when he wrote his epistle to the church at Philippi. This man was in jail.

I’ve never been in jail, not even to visit. I’ve been inside a few that were turned into museums and such, but that is not the same. A stint in jail, particularly if no crime was committed, has to be a terrible thing.

Most prisoners claim that they are innocent. Paul hadn’t broken any laws, but he didn’t seem to care about himself, only his accusers. He was under arrest without food unless it was brought by his friends (they didn’t have human rights groups back then) and didn’t have much to do. I wonder if he was warm enough? Did he have a decent bed? Did he feel abandoned? Did he have thoughts of “no change in sight” or was he always hopeful?

I relate only a little. I cannot go out. I feel shaky in my house, never mind on fresh snow over icy streets. My bed is comfy, but I’m up every couple of hours during the night. I cannot eat more than liquids and am not sure I want even them. No to-do list these days as there is little that I am able to do, much less feel like doing. I could have a pity-party, but no one would come.

Paul’s remarkable attitude and perspective to his situation rebuke even the thought of such an idea. His friends may have been pitying him, but he wrote to let them know that things were just fine in his confinement. He said,

But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. (Philippians 1:12-14)

Being in jail actually furthered Paul’s goal. All he lived for was to preach about Jesus Christ. He may have been in chains, but his spirit was free and his mouth unstoppable. The palace guards, likely assigned two at a time to keep an eye on him, heard about Jesus Christ from this joyful man (joy is mentioned over and over in this epistle). Other Christians heard about Paul preaching even while in chains and they became bolder to preach in the freedom they had. Paul made use of his situation and didn’t whine about it at all.

I’m thinking. I’ve not a lot of energy, but I could write letters, or email encouraging words, or wrap a few gifts. Even if I wimp out physically, thinking outwardly means I can pray for others, and certainly there is always need for that.

No matter the other choices I may make, Paul’s choice to “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice” (Philippians 4:4) sounds like good medicine.

Motivation

2009-12-03T13:42:00.000-07:00

Most people don’t like talking about what motivates them. Perhaps we don’t like to think about the driving force behind our words and actions. Maybe most of what we do is selfish and we either do not recognize it, or don’t want to admit it.

Today’s devotional reading is titled, “What makes you tick?” and refers to the following verses about the Apostle Paul.

I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, (Colossians 1:24-25)

Paul was given a ministry by God and was willing to suffer that his ministry was fulfilled. He was highly motivated to “fulfill the word of God” that had been given him. The comments challenge readers with questions like “What motivates you? What takes all your energy, dominates your time, and makes you tick?”

Of course, for Paul, it was the progress of the gospel. He wasn’t concerned about his body, his life, or even his reputation. In Acts 20:24 he said, “Nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus.”

This man yielded everything including possessions, recognition, reputation, and prestige to this one goal: preaching the Word of God. He even said, “woe is me if I do not preach the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:16). Jesus told him to do it, and he determined to do what he was told.

The devotional writer says Paul is a model for every Christian and focuses on his calling. While I know all Christians should share Christ with others, I’m hesitant about copying the calling of God on someone else’s life and trying to make it my own. Paul was called to preach to the Gentiles while Peter was sent to the Jews (Galatians 2:7). Do I copy them? If so, which one?

Both Peter and Paul obeyed and loved God. That is my model. So also is their godliness and willingness to serve, but I have never been called to preach like they were.

Instead, I believe that all Christians are called to love God and do what He says, but is the doing part the same for everyone? I don’t think so. Some are called to teach, or be givers, or do the work of administration. There are other ways to share the gospel message besides preaching. Each person has to listen to the Holy Spirit and do what we are told.

Scripture is clear that there are only two motivations for doing things. One is the Holy Spirit directing His people, and the other is my selfish fleshy nature which has ideas of its own. A favorite passage helps me know which is which:

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:12-13)

I make mistakes, sometimes follow the wrong motivation, but can depend on the Word of God to discern my intentions and let me know what I should be doing and should not be doing. I cannot hide anything from Him.

Unexpected, Unwanted Bug

2009-12-03T09:34:00.000-07:00

Tuesday December 1, got hit by a nasty bacteria. Slept all day Wednesday. Am wobbly today. Will post when I can sit up long enough to do it.

I’m my own worst enemy

2009-12-01T10:58:00.000-07:00

“Spiritual maturity can be measured by what it takes to steal joy.”

This challenge jumps out of today’s devotional reading. My first thought is that sin steals my joy. Whenever I tip over by violating the will of God, joy spills out like water from a tipped tumbler and I cannot be filled with it again until I get right/upright with God.

In Sunday’s class, we talked about joy and how the presence of joy is a cure-all for nearly everything. Everyone wants to be happy. We do things that we think will produce that emotion. However, if we are joyful, life’s motivations can change. No longer does that sense of trying to be happy rule everything that we do. When I am joyful, I am free to follow the leading of God’s Spirit without worry or fear of what will happen to me.

The Apostle Paul was in jail, but he practiced what he preached. Jail didn’t rob him of his joy. But jail was not the only thing going on that could have tipped him over. Here is how he describes his situation:

But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice. (Philippians 1:12-18)

All Paul wanted was Christ to be preached and God to be glorified. It didn’t matter to him if it took a stint in jail, or if envious people were glad he was in there. If Christ was preached, he was joyful.

Joy is a fruit of a Spirit-controlled life. Paul wrote that we should rejoice always (Philippians 4:4 and 1 Thessalonians 5:16). Since this Holy Spirit joy does not depend on circumstances, Christians can rejoice in all situations, but sometimes things happen and joy vanishes.

The devotional reading offers a list of possible joy-robbers. It includes change, confusion, trials, attacks, unmet desires, conflict, and strained relationships. It said that if these things are successful, then we should cry out like David who said, “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation” (Psalm 51:12).

I find this interesting because the context of the psalmist’s words was in confession of a specific sin. His joy vanished as he violated the will of God. The Holy Spirit could not fill him if he was filled with selfish desire. It is the same with all believers.

In rereading the above list, I think that the joy-robbers are not those things, but more likely the dependence we put on those things. If I value sameness (and control of my life), then change will upset me. The bottom line that robs me of joy is not so much the change, but lack of trust in God to use those changes that happen to my life for my good.

If I value order (another type of control), then when disorder happens, I lose my happiness because that emotion was not from the Holy Spirit in the first place. He gives joy in all situations. Instead, I was elated about order and being in control. Holy Spirit joy is not about externals.

Unmet desires are a no-brainer. Self wants and self denied is unhappy. While my spiritual self often wants things too, along with those desires is the faith that God will provide in His perfect time.

Strained relationships do not feel good, but I’m more apt to be unhappy because I cannot “make them work” — one more evidence of who is trying to control my life — me instead of trusting God to work things out in His way and time.

Joy happens when all is yielded to God in faith, knowing He is taking care of everything. Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33), and the apostle James said, “Count it all joy when you fall into various trials” (James 1:2). The only way I can do that is by remembering that God has His purposes in all my afflictions.

God never removes my joy; I do it when I fall away from trusting Him and yield to my sinful nature. My biggest joy-robber is me.

Peace in Trials

2009-11-30T10:07:00.000-07:00

Obedience guarantees the presence of the God of peace. When Christians do as they have learned from God and His people, we know the reality of Him being with us. That is why Paul wrote:

The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:9)

I don’t think I have ever been more exhausted than I was yesterday, but God was with me. Things happened that might have otherwise produced anxiety or annoyance, but neither happened. It could have been because I was too tired to be riled, but I’m certain that it was more because He was there.

The presence of someone with a strong personality affects the mood of any gathering. My brother is a natural comedian. When we had visitors and he was being his normal self, everyone was laughing and happy. I had an aunt who was always complaining and finding fault. She had an effect on a gathering too. Sometimes one person can make or break the atmosphere at a party.

Yesterday, our party consisted of mostly Christians. Each one of them brought the presence of God. He is the invisible guest when we get together, but His presence is made visible by the relaxed mood and joyful attitude of His people.

Today’s devotional reading says that the apostle Paul often called the Lord the God of peace. Some examples: “Now the God of peace be with you all” (Romans 15:33). “The God of love and peace will be with you” (2 Corinthians 13:11), and “May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way” (2 Thessalonians 3:16).

God’s character is peace, making Him both the origin and giver of peace. My definition of peace is knowing that all of life, all events past, present and future, and in all places are all under His control. Peace is being sure that life is never haphazard and that a loving God is working out His perfect plans.

At the party yesterday we watched the Grey Cup, our Canadian football final. The game was seconds from the end when the team from the west made an unbelievable error, giving the other team opportunity to redo a missed field goal. They didn’t miss the second time and won the cup.

The feeling was something like you’d feel if you dropped your wallet or car keys off a bridge over the Grand Canyon — only ten times worst an “oops” than that. The defensive coach for that team lives across the street from us. He is a Christian and I wonder how he responded to this. I’m sure that the team, at least for a long while, did not experience peace, but more like having the rug pulled from under you.

Yet as I think about it today, the peace of God is vast enough for anything that happens. His presence never leaves His people. He helps us have godly attitudes, thoughts, and actions. He offers His supernatural peace and that peace guards our hearts. His peace provides comfort, tranquility, quietness, and confidence in the midst of any trial.

For me yesterday it was being so tired that I could barely stay awake, yet was able to take care of my guests and stay calm. For the Christian players on both teams for that game yesterday, it will involve different challenges and yet God can also give peace to their hearts, flying high or dropped off a cliff, because that is who He is.

Yes, I am whining

2009-11-29T08:20:00.000-07:00

This has been an odd week. The house renovations went well, but we are really tired. One family birthday was supposed to happen before all the work started, but an unexpected business trip bumped that party to yesterday. It was supposed to be lunch / afternoon, but a couple of people didn’t read the emails that flew back and forth and it wound up being all afternoon / supper / evening. Lots of food, but that meant lots of cleanup.

Today we host our annual football final party with some friends. Both my husband and I teach this morning. We were up late cleaning up after birthday celebrations. I’m glad the game is later in the day because my first thought when the alarm rang was, “Oh no. I want to sleep for a week.”

This is a physical challenge, but I’m also challenged in my spiritual life. God has been pointed about the need to die to self and put others first. The changes in yesterday’s plans were not huge in themselves, but a few added elements pushed my buttons. One couple said they had been sick and did we want them to keep their germs at home because of my DH lowered immune system. Huh? I didn’t know how to respond so passed that one to hubby. Two other people have asked if they could bring friends. Huh? Normally that would not be a problem but my fatigue almost became an excuse for buying a couple of copies of Miss Manners.

So today God gives me a verse and reminds me of my mother. First the verse, written by Paul but definitely good advice from the Lord:

The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:9)

Paul sets an example of how to live the Christian life and tells me to follow his lead. So did my mother. She wasn’t perfect, but she did know how to do hospitality. One year she felt burdened for the teens in the community who had nothing to do on New Year’s Eve while their parents partied in the local pub. So she invited them to our house. We lived a mile out of town and they came, first a few, but by the third year, we had one hundred and twenty-five guests. We fed them pancakes, lots of pancakes. There was no alcohol as all were underage, but mom would not have tolerated it anyway. We probably gave them soda pop, a lot of soda pop.

I cannot remember much else, except that third year one boy fell on a coffee table and broke the glass. He could have been badly injured. My mother decided this was a good reason to end these parties, but the lessons of hospitality stayed. My sister finds this an easier example. For me, it is a bigger challenge. I prefer smaller groups.

No matter. My preference isn’t what God wants. He says I’m to follow the example of Paul, but also my mother. Entertain strangers. Give of myself, even when I am tired. What I have seen in others who follow Jesus I must also do.

The bottom line is that for these things, God promises . . . peace? No, the verse says that the “God of peace” will be with me. He, who is filled with peace and the Author of peace, promises His presence.

That’s one more guest, only this time I’ve no hesitation. He is welcome in my house and at my table. In fact, I’m positive that there is no way I can do today without Him.

Is the sky really falling in 2012?

2009-11-27T09:24:00.001-07:00

End of the world predictions have been happening for decades. The latest is based on the Mayan calendar which ends in the year 2012. From this comes the idea that the world will also end in that year.

I’ve not thought much about this so was prompted this morning by my devotional reading to check it out. One site explains the belief system of the Mayans and their various calendars. It says that they believed in cyclical rather than linear time, and their calendars were connected to numerology, the predictions of shaman priests, the movement of the planets, superstition and the activity of evil spirits.

The Bible has a different version and different sources. It speaks of time as linear, even though many prophecies are fulfilled in stages or in overlapping times. The predictions come from godly men, not calendars or shamans, but men who listened to the Creator and wrote what He revealed to them. Although Jesus said that no man knows when the end will come, He also gave some signs of what will happen before He returns and before the world is transformed. These signs are vague enough that Christians realize we need to be ready all the time.

Mayan superstition isn’t scary, yet people are afraid. And even if some do not buy this current prediction, the end of the world is a frightening prospect. Yet Christians should not be afraid. In fact, fear is not the work of God since 2 Timothy 1:7 says that “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

Instead, the Bible talks about the end of the world (as we know it) in far different terms.

Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places. (Isaiah 32:16–18)

This prophecy is for those who know righteousness and live righteously, which is possible only through faith in Jesus Christ. Human sin nature, by itself, cannot attain the righteousness that God approves, but we can do it when we put our faith in Jesus and He lives in us.

Then we discover two things. First, this prophetic verse is true about a great peace in the future when Jesus returns, but it is also true right now. Righteous behavior produces spiritual peace and stability. James wrote, “The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable. . . . Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace” (James 3:17-18).

From experience, I also know that contentment, inner calm, a quietness of heart, and tranquility are the result of godly behavior based on following God’s Word and living by the power of the Holy Spirit. Faith in Christ and doing good things overcomes evil (Romans 12:21), but faith also overcomes fear and produces sound thinking.

This is practical. God’s people need not be concerned about 2012 Mayan predictions, nor should anyone else. Our concern should be that we live righteously so that whenever the end comes, the result in our hearts will be peace, quietness and assurance that last forever.

How can you be so sure?

2009-11-28T09:54:00.000-07:00

One amazing thing about being a Christian is the assurance. I know that what God reveals is true. Sometimes my understanding of His revelation needs help, but whatever He says is sure and certain.

I’ve been asked, “How can you be so sure?” This I do not understand. I just am, but not only that, I know the difference between the self-deception that comes with disobedience and with wanting something to be true (to the point that I don’t listen). I also know the deception offered by false teachers. Yet when God speaks through His Word, He gives that amazing sense of knowing it is true. Sometimes He even affirms it in other ways as He did for the early Christians.

And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. (2 Peter 1:18–19)

Every teaching or prediction made by the Old Testament prophets was for Peter and for his readers already a “sure” thing; the OT was their Bible. Yet these verses suggest that the prophecies in those writings were made even “more certain” or “confirmed” by the Transfiguration when God’s voice spoke from heaven as they were with Jesus on the mountain.

If there were any doubts concerning those prophetic teachings of God’s plans for world history, this eyewitness account would rule them out. The OT prophets wrote about both the first and second coming of God’s Messiah, as did the New Testament writers.

For me, the point of this is the second part of the verses from 2 Peter that say it is good for me to pay attention to this light that God shines into the darkness in this world. Some time in the future, the day will dawn, a reference to the return of Christ, but that has not yet happened. In the meantime, I need to walk by the light that He gives me.

The idea of “a light shining in a dark place” is a common metaphor in Jewish literature. I’m thinking of Psalm 119:105 that says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” Without the Word of God, I do not know where I am going or even where I have been. Sin makes the heart dark. The Word gives it light.

Peter extends this metaphor with the idea that prophetic light is vital “until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” Again, in its context that “day” refers to the return of Christ who is the “morning star” spoken of in Numbers 24:17 and Revelation 22:16.

The idea of this star rising in my heart fuels my anticipation for the return of Jesus. I’m not alone. From the days of the early church until now, Christians eagerly anticipate the joy of that day. Paul wrote . . .

For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

Neither Peter nor Paul gives much attention to death when talking of Jesus’ return. While their words have created a sense that the Lord could return during the lifetime readers throughout the past two thousand years, these words also say something about my priorities.

Instead of thinking about how long I will live, when I will die, and being preoccupied with the shortness of life, I will do well to heed the Word of God and anticipate the joy of seeing Jesus. He may or may not return in my lifetime, but either way, He challenges me to spend the days I have knowing that I will spend eternity with Him, and that is His sure Word to me.

Learning a big lesson from a small problem

2009-11-26T10:23:00.000-07:00

For months I’ve tried to lose 5-10 lbs. The first few were easy, but this became a battle that I could not win. At the time, a book called Born Crucified and my devotions were convincing me that this was one area of my life that I was trying to control and needed to give the whole thing to Jesus.

It took a while, but finally the Lord helped me understand that the issue was not weight loss but self-control. The Bible says this quality is something given by the Holy Spirit, but I was focused on the “self” part and was not letting the Spirit do His work. I could argue that I was afraid of what might happen, but have to say it was more like I didn’t want to give up the control of eating anything I wanted whenever I wanted it.

Yet the Lord persisted and finally I gave up. I couldn’t reach my goals and told Him to do whatever He wanted about this situation. In my struggle, I did learn some good things. I now have greater sympathy for those with dozens or even hundreds of pounds to shed. This is not easy. I also learned that it is a battle of the will. No matter what my common sense says, that chocolate cake or extra slice of pizza will find its way to my plate unless I decide otherwise.

After giving this over to the Lord, an odd thing happened. It seems small and one of those “why didn’t I think of that” kinds of solutions, but for me it is huge and, no, I didn’t think of it. The Lord’s cure is that His Spirit is making me strongly aware of my choices. Instead of just eating and then later saying that I shouldn’t have, He has changed the timing of His conviction.

For instance, I can eat pizza, but if I’m about to take the next piece that will put me over what is right for my health, the Holy Spirit gives me an instant awareness that now I must decide. Because I know that He will give me the self-control that I need, my decision at that point is not so much about the eating as it is about who I will let be the boss in my life: my wants and appetites, or God.

He also gave me a verse to encourage me. It says, “I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified (unfit)” (1 Corinthians 9:27).

Today’s devotional reading is further encouragement to obey God. If I want to keep my life clean from any sin, I need to pay attention to that conviction about my choices. The verse says, “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word” (Psalm 119:9).

The author of my devotional book adds that any godly conduct that produces spiritual stability depends on obeying God’s Word because the Bible cultivates godly attitudes, thoughts, and actions. He offers an analogy. If a policeman sees a person about to break the law, he will arrest him. In the same way, godly thoughts produced by God’s Word are like that policemen. They arrest the sinful flesh before it commits a crime against the standards of God. Yet if these attitudes and thoughts are not on duty, they can’t make the arrest, and sinful me will easily feel free to violate the biblical commands.

The New Testament says that only spiritual weapons will help me win this battle against my sinful flesh. By using the right weapon, I can take “every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:4-5) because the Holy Spirit is there to give me the self-control I need to say no when the choice is presented. Of course it is better to have the crime stopped before it happens then to eat too much and be filled with regret.

However, the main lesson in all this is not about the weight loss, even though that is happening. It is about self-control and listening to His voice in all the details of life, many of which are far more important than making sure my clothes still fit.

After or before are the same to God

2009-11-25T10:42:00.000-07:00

New Bible software has arrived and is loaded. I quickly discover that it is well worth the investment. It gives me quick access to many study tools and reference works that I may have had in the older version, but they were not as easy to find and use.

Today, using a feature that compares versions, I found something interesting. These are two versions of the same verse, Psalm 17:5. The first is from the New King James Bible, and the second from the New American Standard Bible.

Uphold my steps in Your paths, that my footsteps may not slip.
My steps have held fast to Your paths. My feet have not slipped.

The first one sound like a prayer asking God to keep the psalmist on target in his walk with Him. The second one is an affirmation that God has already done it.

When I became a Christian, the King James Bible was all I had. I’ve memorized from it, and many songs sung in the church use its words. Passages like John 3:16 and Psalm 23 are familiar to non-Christians in the KJV. There are some Christians who insist that because this version is one of the first translations into English, it is the best. There are congregations who say they are KJV-only and some go so far as to say that other versions are in error.

Many English translations exist today. Some of them are “paraphrases” written in modern English using a translation. Most of them are true translations using the ancient manuscripts. However, there are two manuscript sources. The older ones are more recently discovered, so versions like the New International or the New American Standard are translated from those older and more numerous manuscripts. The KJV is from a different set, discovered earlier, but not as ancient as the others.

All this does not mean one set of manuscripts is better than the other, but differences do show up, mostly in style. The gist of a verse is generally the same. The one that I’m reading today could be considered an exception. However, I’m thinking that it isn’t. Here is why . . .

When I pray, I am essentially saying to God that I believe He can and will do what I ask. If my prayer says, “Lord, save me” then I am asking Him to rescue me believing that He will. If I say, “Lord, you have saved me,” then the only difference is the time perspective. In either case, my prayer is an expression of what God has done or will do. The words show what side of the event I am looking at, before or after. Regardless of the viewpoint or perspective, the event is a reality to a person of faith.

This notion is not about a proper translation of the verse. That has already been done in each of the versions. It is more about getting a sense of what God is trying to tell me. If I pay attention to the differences in the two translations instead of getting in a sweat over which is the more accurate, then I see that the Bible often speaks in terms of eternity rather than time. In the mind of God, whether the psalmist is asking for help or has received help does not matter because He sees both events together. There is no linear time in eternity.

For me this is practical. When I pray, in the mind of God whatever I ask for is already done. I can pray asking, which expresses my faith that He will, or I can pray thanking Him that He has done it, even if I do not see the answer yet. This is also an expression of faith.

How cool is that!

Photo credit

Thinking God’s way changes my life

2009-11-24T10:24:00.000-07:00

Yesterday a woman came to help me with the cleanup of powdery sawdust from our renovation project. She was upset over a family issue and although she worked steadily, her face reflected her anxiety. Sometimes tears flowed as she told me the things on her heart.

To someone who is not a Christian, the encouragement from my Bible reading in the past few days about “do not be anxious about anything” and taking concerns to the Lord with thanksgiving sound just like that silly song, Don’t Worry, Be Happy. Without knowing the Lord, it is impossible for her to experience His supernatural peace, so for now I just listened.

As the day went by, I felt the weight of her burdens. She thanked me for listening and I told her that I would pray for her, and suggested that she try and focus on the few good things that were happening in her situation.

When she left, I had to take my own advice. I felt heavy about her situation too. I prayed about it, asking Jesus to help her and thanking Him for giving me this burden so I could pray for her. She doesn’t seem to have many friends and her family is not supportive. However, I knew that if I give much thought to the negatives in her life, I would be rehashing them just as she was.

I’ve done this before. Worry is one thing. The cure is taking it to God with thanksgiving and He gives peace, but I know that at that point I can bring back the worry if my mind dwells on the wrong things. No doubt that is why this passage on worry and prayer ends with these words:

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. (Philippians 4:8)

God knows that what happens in the mind winds its way into life. If I think lies or other ignoble things, they will affect my attitudes, the way I talk, and the things that I do. If my mind is in the gutter, or occupied with gossip, or grumbling about the flaws and failures of others, those thoughts will turn into words and actions.

The writer of my devotional gives some definitions for the words in this verse. He says that true things are what is found in God’s Word. I agree. Thinking biblically retains my peace of heart and God’s Word always builds my faith.

Noble thoughts refer to that which is worthy of awe and adoration—the sacred as opposed to the profane. Getting my mind above the bad things in life is good, but getting it above the mundane makes a huge difference in joy levels too. God is taking care of the things I prayed about. I do not need to oversee what He is doing by picking at it in my head.

Just things means my thoughts should be consistent with God’s absolute holiness. He does what is right. That kind of thinking is conducive to trust.

The meaning of pure thoughts is obvious. Keep my mind on that which is morally clean and undefiled. Some of the things that were shared yesterday as part of this woman’s burden included immoral behavior of others. Every time I think of what she said, I am weighed down with pain. God asks me to trust Him with what needs to be done. It isn’t that I run from the burden, but that I give it to Him, totally.

He wants me to think about lovely things too, things that are pleasing or acceptable, things that have a good report or are highly regarded and well thought of. At times, the only thought that fall into that category is thinking of God Himself. He is perfect while so much of what goes on in this world is far below that.

Lastly, He advises me to put my mind on that which has virtue, those praiseworthy things. What has a good reputation? My devotional suggests whatever the world considers good, such as kindness, courtesy, and respect for others.

During the day, the Holy Spirit kept reminding me to listen, not preach, and give this hurting lady as much kindness and respect that I could. I realize today the importance of thinking that way because it affected my actions toward her. It also affects me today. I can still feel compassion and concern for her, yet not let the weight of what she told me be so burdensome that I am not able to think right or hold up her needs to the Lord in my prayers.

Put it on?

2009-11-23T09:45:00.000-07:00

Whenever someone studies the Bible, one of the first steps is making sure that they know what the words say. This is primary yet well-read people tend to take this step for granted, particularly if the words are simple. Yet this can be dangerous because even simple words can mean something other than what we think they mean.

For instance, when I read the words “put on” I tend to think of someone doing something misleading, they are acting or putting on an attitude that is not real or normal for them. Today, I looked up “put on” and found that even an ordinary dictionary lists six meanings. Three of them resemble the meaning that pops into my head.
    3. To assume affectedly: put on an English accent.
    4. Slang, to tease or mislead (another): You're putting me on!
    6. To produce; perform: put on a variety show.

The other three are more positive and do not have that sense of faking it.
    1. To clothe oneself with; don: put on a coat; put socks on.
    2. To apply; activate: put on the brakes.
    5. To add: put on weight.

Consider these six meanings for the following verses about the way Christians are supposed to live.

Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him. (Colossians 3:9-10)

If any of the first three meanings are assumed, then the passage is about acting, playing a part, being misleading. That is not what the Bible is talking about, but often that is the way the Christian life is interpreted. Put on a Christian face, show a pious and spiritual attitude. Never mind what is really going on, just look good on the outside.

Definition #1 is closer to what the verses are saying. Most commentators say that putting on the new life is like putting on clothes, but even this definition misses the idea a little bit. Putting on clothes could be seen as an external action, a covering up of what someone is really like. This is not what God has in mind. The Greek word is more about “sinking into” clothes, perhaps a slight difference, but it puts to mind a deeper thing than just donning a new persona or affecting an external change.

All that being said, the context enriches the ideas in these verses. The former self was involved in sinful living, but Christians are given a new mind, the mind of Christ. With that, we have a renewed knowledge that is more like the innocence and openness of a babe yet this renewed understanding is patterned after Jesus Christ. Instead of being like we once were, we are told to dump that like an old rag, and now be like the new people He has made us.

We are to wear that newness, live by it, sink into it, let be the way we are, not a way we pretend to be. Our piety is not to be a big “put on” but genuine, from the inside out, like Jesus.

As soon as I start saying to myself, “How should I act in this situation?” then I have lost the very thing Colossians 3 is talking about. The new nature is a choice, but once it is yielded to, then the Holy Spirit does the deciding and I just am who I am. It isn’t a put on.

These are only two simple words, yet what a difference the definitions make. Without checking it out, I could think it is okay to wear a church face, or pretend I am patient, or let others see only the “good” side of me.

Renewed knowledge, and a bit of effort to activate that knowledge with some Bible study, says otherwise.

What was I thinking?

2009-11-22T08:04:00.000-07:00

Whenever I blurt out, “What was I thinking?” I usually mean that I wasn’t, or at least not about the need of the moment. Reflecting on the past is good, as is planning for the future, but most of the time my mind needs to be in the moment. What is going on right now? Failure to do that results in all sorts of unwanted events, from little ones spilling milk on the floor because I put the glass at the edge of the table, to taking a wrong turn and winding up lost and having to backtrack.

Today’s verse is about how Christians should think, or rather, what faculties we need to use in our thinking. My old nature (now crucified with Christ and useless) thinks first and foremost very selfish thoughts. This is a reject. The alternative is much better.

For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16)

When I was saved, God gave me a new mind or way of thinking. He now interjects my human thought patterns with divine and supernatural thoughts. How cool is that! For instance, a friend broke his ankle. The first thought that came to my head was buy him some special socks. Odd for me to think that, but when he opened the bag and pulled out the socks, God’s blessing was written all over his face. This was another one of God’s good ideas.

I do agree with the apostle Paul when he said that, “Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Romans 8:5-6).

Because of the Spirit of God in my life, I can think on a different level. In the case of the socks, before Christ I may not have thought to get a little gift, and if I had, it would have been to impress someone with my thoughtfulness. That would be selfish and fleshly thinking. Jesus never thinks that way.

However, having the mind of Christ, or being able to think like He thinks, requires a bit more than a renewed brain. Paul also said, “Of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God — and righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30).

God also imparts His wisdom to His people. We can think the deep thoughts of the eternal God and apply the knowledge He gives in ways that surprise even us. In fact, if someone says to me, “You are out of your mind” that could mean time to recheck my thinking, but it could also be good reason for rejoicing.

Just Do It

2009-11-21T10:22:00.000-07:00

These days, many people allow emotions to rule over truth. For them, what feels good is more important what is right or the best action.

This way of thinking also happens in Christian circles. Those who are gifted with a great deal of compassion are often drawn more to whatever will produce emotional stability or whatever is practical. They do not like confrontation or emotional stress. This is part of the gift of compassion, but it can tip too far. For instance, when faced with some decisions they show their desire for calm waters, they start asking like, “How will it make me (or us) feel?” or “Will it divide?” or “Will it offend?” instead of “Is it true?” or “Is it the will of God?”

To be fair, those gifted in teaching focus on the principles of Scripture and thinking right. Those who are servers see the Bible differently than those who are gifted in leadership. Our gifting does give us the ability to see what others might miss, and we are to serve one another with those gifts. However, we are also to use them rightly and in ways that honor God.

I need compassion people and I like to feel good, but I also need to make sure of what the Bible actually says. I cannot bend it to whatever I or others might want it to say, and when I read it with an open heart, I know that life will not always feel good, even when I am obedient to God. For instance, 2 Timothy 3:12 says, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”

To live by what feels good could put me in direct disobedience. I need to be more concerned about what is true and right. Luke wrote the book of Acts and told of a group of Jews that were concerned to find truth.

Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. (Acts 17:10-11)

The words “fair-minded” are literally “noble-minded” because they were interested in finding truth, not good feelings or pleasant circumstances. They did not have a “what is in this for me” attitude.

Not all people are like the people of Berea. My devotional reading points out that far too many people go to church today to get a certain feeling rather than think or weigh what is said and make sure it is true (using the Bible, of course). By letting their emotions rule instead of right thinking, their spiritual lives are certain to become unstable.

These believers in Berea received the Word of God with readiness, eagerly welcoming the truth. They also wanted to find out if what they were hearing matched up with what the Scriptures said. This is interesting because the New Testament was not yet written. All they had was the Old Testament. Many modern day Christians tend to mentally separate the two sections of the Bible, forgetting that the early Christians had nothing else but the older Scriptures. By careful study, these early Christians could compare what they were hearing (and what we can now read) with what they already had. The Scriptures were their measuring stick, not their emotions.

While that kind of Bible study takes work, I can imagine what it did for their faith. They could see the hand of God throughout their history leading up to the days they were living when Jesus walked this earth and died for their sins, all described and foretold in their sacred manuscripts.

Bible colleges offer courses in Bible Synthesis, but Christians do not have to go to Bible school to discover the harmony between the two sections of the Bible. What we need more is that noble-mindedness of the Bereans who gladly did their homework. That would help all of us, including me, better live by the Word of God and abandon this feel-good philosophy that keeps us from being lights that shine in a dark place.

God is in the fine details

2009-11-20T10:10:00.001-07:00

Fine dust is everywhere, well, except in or on what has been sealed with sheets and duct tape. Sometimes it is almost invisible, but just knowing it is there makes me feel itchy.

We are having our main floor lino and carpet replaced. The kitchen, dining, living room and L-shaped hallway have been torn back to the sub-floor. The installer has laid about 20 square feet of the new stuff. I’m sure he did that to give me hope.

My devotional reading is about hope in far more dire circumstances. It points to Jonah, a disobedient prophet. God told him to preach and he ran the other way. God arranged a storm at sea and Jonah winds up in the belly of a great fish.

Apparently this has happened in more modern times so the issue is not the believability of the story. It is about being thankful in tough situations.

While he was still in the fish’s belly, Jonah cried out to God, not with “why” or “get me out of here” like I would do. Instead he affirmed that God hears prayer, described his situation, and expressed confidence that God could deliver him if that was His plan. Then Jonah said,

But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord. (Jonah 2:9)

During the past few days I’ve been reminded that praying with thanksgiving produces peace. This is not a magic formula though. When I am thankful, I have to mean it, not just mouth it. God knows my heart.

However, if I can be truly thankful, the peace of God settles my heart. This is because thankfulness acknowledges that God is the source of all good things, sovereign over all that happens to me, has a good purpose in even the difficulties, and is able to help me. Grumbling says all the opposites and indicates lack of faith. It also dishonors God.

I can see myself being thankful for the new floor — after it is in. But can I be thankful for the mess and all that fine dust right now? I look ahead to taking everything out of my kitchen cupboards and pantry, washing or wiping both contents and shelving, and putting them away. Dusting has never been my favorite chore. It chokes me up, and this dust makes my skin as dry as parchment.

Yet I am challenged to be thankful in all situations. This is God’s will for me. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

So how can I be thankful in this? One question comes to mind. How long has it been since I last gave my kitchen a thorough cleaning? Mmmm. How long would I have waited to do it had the new floor not been an issue? Mmmm.

God knows what He is doing. I ask Him daily to govern my life and keep me on track. He knows how easily I avoid those daily chores. I’d rather cook, quilt, or do almost anything else than some of these small but necessary responsibilities. So, true to His plan of changing me into a better person, God is also making certain that I take care of the dusting.

Guarded

2009-11-19T08:50:00.000-07:00

One neighbor is always guarded. He seems to have a wall of defense built up, as if he simply relaxed and was himself he would be too vulnerable or attacked and wounded.

At first, we thought he was like that because we are Christians and he’d had some sort of bad experience or prejudice against our faith or faith of any kind. (He has a scientific mind.) Now we notice that he is like that with everyone, guarded, always protecting himself against something.

Larry Crabb wrote an excellent book called Encouragement. In it, he describes how people fear rejection, and that most of us think that if others knew what we were really like, they would shun or avoid us. So people build a persona, a personality and way of behaving that they think others will accept. He called those structures walls, because they surround the real person. The big problem with them is that walls allow surface relationships only. True encouragement happens when the real people behind the walls can talk to each other.

Today’s verse comes out of yesterday’s devotional reading and continues the thoughts about peace. In the verse, the idea of being guarded is different from walls. It is something that we cannot do ourselves.

. . . and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)

“Guard” is a military term. Yesterday I wrote that it implies that my mind is in a battle zone and needs the protection of a military guard. In war, a guard prevents hostile invasions or keeps those in a besieged city from escaping.

Applying that to the walls of self-protection, they are a human attempt to guard me from rejection by keeping people from knowing me. They also guard the “real me” from being let loose so others can see and reject who I am.

But this guarding in the Bible is not about human walls. It is about the peace of God that exceeds human understanding. It is about God taking down the walls in such a way that I do not feel any need to have them because He replaces them with something better.

He guards me with His peace. This is a supernatural calm that is bestowed when I pray with thanksgiving. I don’t have to think about my theology or fill my mind with Bible verses. God does this; I do not.

However, when I am at peace I am aware that God is protecting me. He knows what He can use for good in my life. I do not need to fear how people will respond to me because God is in charge of that.

Neither do I need to worry about the “real me” being exposed. My reason? “God demonstrated His own love toward me, in that while I was still a sinner, Christ died for me” (Romans 5:8). I am accepted by God!

His peace, this supernatural, all surpassing state of calm, includes a deep awareness of His love and acceptance. I can relax, be myself, not worry if others see my shortcomings and weaknesses. Because God loves me, what can human rejection do to me?

There are two kinds of being guarded, my neighbor’s strained self-effort, and God’s way of guarding me. Sometimes I pick the self-effort and put up a wall, but it is definitely not the best guard. All it does is keep my fears and anxiety bottled inside. The better choice is the quiet assurance that God alone can give.

Peace is a practical thing

2009-11-18T10:29:00.000-07:00

Actions follow attitude. This undergirds my idea of how to live the Christian life. Get your heart right and your hands and feet will follow. Along with this, I believe that thinking right will reduce and even eliminate anxiety and stress.

I also notice the order of things in the Bible, verses like “Yield to God, resist the devil” (James 4:7), and know that they are in this order for a reason. No one can resist Satan and fight God at the same time. These two principles came together this morning and taught me that I cannot always put God’s way of doing things in a box.

Today’s verse is Philippians 4:7, a promise of God’s peace. However, I read and studied it in its context.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:6-9)

The devotional guide points out that the promise is for those who pray about their concerns with a thankful attitude. While it does not promise what the answer to our prayers will be, it does say that God will give a special peace, one that “surpasses all understanding.”

I’ve experienced this supernatural peace. The first time it happened at the onset of a family crisis where one of our children was in grave danger. We prayed. Our prayer included an expression of thanks for His care. We were not thinking about this verse, but were surprised at the peace that flooded our hearts — before the answer came and our child was safe. This peace made no sense. According to what was happening, our intellect, analysis, and insight had no reason for it. It was simply a gift from God that guarded our hearts in the hours that followed.

This verse, in context, blows my theory about thinking right produces less stress. God took away the stress because we took our concern to Him with thanksgiving. While this may have been a good start toward thinking right, this incredible peace was not our doing and we knew it. Only God could have produced it.

With that event in mind, I’m noticing the order in this passage. Take my requests to God with thanksgiving > He gives peace > then think right and meditate. This ability to think right flows from having peace. It is not the cause of it but the result!

Christians would love to pray and have every uncomfortable circumstance eliminated from our lives. Instead, God asks us to trust Him in the midst of every situation. This is why Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

He makes this possible by offering us supernatural peace. Having this peace does require prayer with thanksgiving. Being thankful is vital because it is an expression of acceptance and trust. We live in a fallen world filled with problems and stressful events and cannot make things go away. Wishing for heaven or being upset with God for allowing all this nonsense will not bring peace, but trusting Him will.

The nature of this peace is also found in the words will guard. It is a military term that implies my mind is in a battle zone. It needs to be “protected by a military guard” which, in a wartime situation, either prevents hostile invasions or keeps those in a besieged city from escaping. This peace from God protects my mind from external influences that attack it, and keeps me focused on God’s truth rather than running around in circles.

I sit here remembering many other times when I should have been in a dither and God gave peace. It in never a calm from denial or withdrawal, or a pie in the sky escapism, but a strong inner sense of His power and that He is in control, no matter what is going on. Nothing could be more practical.

Artwork: Prince of Peace by Greg Olsen

Prescriptions for Anxiety

2009-11-17T09:56:00.000-07:00

One of my in-laws worries and grumbles. One Christmas I made and sent to her a thankful calendar. It is a 30-day with pages like a flip chart. Each day has a suggestion of something to be thankful for, everything from God’s care to the voice of songbirds.

Being thankful helped the in-law. I also keep a personal “gratitude” journal because I know from experience that a lifetime of being negative takes a toll on a person’s health and doesn’t do much for relationships. Besides, worry does little for the concerns and more harm than good.

That is one reason the Bible says not to worry about anything, “but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). The rest of the verse says that God will give me peace, even if He does not take away the problems that are my focus of worry.

The words in this verse are important. For instance, supplication is a special word for an imploring request. Of course anyone who is fearful easily makes those kinds of requests because they want God to avert those worrisome evils.

Another important word is “thanksgiving” which does not come out as easily as the imploring request. When I am fearful and worried, I also tend to be in a state of doubt about God wanting the best for me, or at the least, I am discontent. To approach God in a spirit of thanksgiving instead of worry is unnatural. Even being asked to do this forces me to consider what is going on that I can be thankful about. Thinking about being thankful is the first step to actually doing it.

For starters, I know that God promised not to allow anything into my life that will be too much for me to bear. He has already shown me this is true and His Word affirms it.

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

I also know His promise to work out everything for my good, not the “feel good” kind of good, but that good of being more like Jesus.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:28-29)

The process of being made to conform to the image of Christ is not always fun, but there is joy in the results. Peter wrote in 1 Peter 5:10 that the God of all grace called me to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, and after I have suffered a while, He will perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle me.

Because I know that trials are within the sovereign power of God and that He uses them to make me a better person, then in those trials I can “cast all my care upon Him, for He cares for me” (1 Peter 5:7). I can be thankful that in His providence, nothing is wasted. He is perfecting me, and the glory He will receive from accomplishing His will is a good thing. So regardless of the trials, fears, or worries, I still can pray with thanksgiving.

Did I do it, or was it God?

2009-11-16T09:24:00.000-07:00

In a day and culture that believe truth is relative, or that each person decides what is “true for you” but not “true for me,” discussions about the sovereignty of God are impossible. If truth sways according to opinion, there is nothing to talk about and the topic can be avoided.

From childhood, I’ve been a black and white person. Of course in some areas I need to back off. Opinions abound and I cannot say what is the nicest color or the best music or the most important topic of discussion. However, when it comes to God, it is quite clear that He is either sovereign or He is not. That is, He either has the power and does use it to control the events in time and space, or He does not. He can influence, persuade, or make things happen. Nothing is impossible for Him. Partial control is not sovereign.

If He only controls some things, then He is not God and Lord of all. Further, I could not worship a weak God or one that I defined. If God cannot do everything He wishes, then I might as well worship myself, for that puts Him into my category.

This discussion is problematic in Christian circles because theologies differ. Traditional Reformed theology, called Calvinism, emphasizes God’s sovereignty and says that no one will come to Christ apart from the work of God to initiate a call to them, drawing them to Jesus, giving them the gift of faith and new life, and then keeping them in His care by His grace and power.

On the other side of things, Arminian theology emphasizes man’s power of choice. This view says God provides spiritual help, but it is up to each person to decide if they will follow Jesus and persevere in their walk with Him. Arminians say that if they want, they can choose to not believe and lose their salvation.

Today’s reading points to a verse written to believers who are, “elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: grace to you and peace be multiplied” (1 Peter 1:2).

I’ve heard every argument possible. Some say that God is not fair if He does the choosing, the electing. Others say that God loves us and gives us the choice. If we don’t want Him, He respects our decision. Still others say that God knows who will choose Him, so these are the ones He elects. Election is thus about man’s decision, not God’s.

Some of the people that I’ve known who held to this theology also believed that their life was going to be measured by their deeds. They were never sure where they stood with God and worried that they might sin and face death before they had a chance to repent. Their salvation was all about them, and while they loved Jesus, they insisted they could stop loving Him if they wanted to.

I’ve listened and studied all of it and realized that my sin nature, the person that I was without Christ, would certainly never choose Jesus, not because of desire, but because it is impossible. Romans 3:10-12 says, “There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one” (Romans 3:10-12).

To love and follow Him, I must have a new nature, and I know from both the Bible and my experience that I cannot make that happen. That is a God thing. He came into my life and made all things new. In my case, there was no prayer of invitation; He just showed up. For some, there is such a prayer, but in either case, it is because He has come and offered Himself. If He did not do that, no one could be given new life.

As a Christian, there is a conflict between the old nature and the new, yet that old nature has already been declared dead in Christ and separated from God. I need to shed it like old clothes and walk in the newness of life God has given. Should I wear that old me, the new life might get covered up, but it will persist because it is of God — and God persists.

People who think salvation is about human choice cite all sorts of people who were “once Christians but changed their mind.” I tried that once. However, the Bible says I have the mind of Christ and He will never leave me or forsake me. He would not let go of me.

As for those who seem to be able to do it, I have to leave that alone. God knows if they had new life or not. God also knows if their decision was permanent or if like me, they realized the hand of God let them run to the end of their tether, but He was still there, able to save them to the uttermost.

In my mind, this discussion can only be evaluated by one question: Which view glorifies God as sovereign, almighty, and true to His promises? It is not glory but blasphemy to even think that I could, by an act of my own will, do or undo all that He has done in my life.

Hiding mean dying

2009-11-15T08:07:00.000-07:00

Little birds are smart enough to know that when danger threatens, they need to seek refuge under their mother’s wings. This is the image that the word “trust” refers to in this psalm of David.

In You, O Lord, I put my trust; let me never be ashamed; deliver me in Your righteousness. Bow down Your ear to me, deliver me speedily; be my rock of refuge, a fortress of defense to save me. For You are my rock and my fortress; therefore, for Your name’s sake, lead me and guide me. Pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, for You are my strength. Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth. (Psalm 31:1-5)

David had been anointed King of Israel, but the current king, Saul, was not about to give up his throne. Instead, he hunted David like a wild animal. Many times David had opportunity to retaliate, but refused. He trusted God and when he was in danger, he depended on God to keep him safe.

His appeal wasn’t based on his merit. He never asked God to be fair or to consider him because he was supposed to be the king. He didn’t appeal to God on the basis of Saul being mean to him either. Instead, he asked God to deliver him “for Your name’s sake.”

God promises to protect, lead, and guide His people. If I am in trouble, I can go to Him and rely on Him to take care of me because He said that He would. My appeal ought to be based on His character and integrity, His name and reputation. He will do it because He is God and because He acts according to who He is.

This seems a simple concept, yet many times I’ve come to God with requests based on my own supposed worth or need. Instead of exalting God in my prayers, I’m trying to persuade Him to do what I want because my name or reputation is at stake, or because someone or something has threatened me and I don’t like it. David had it right. I often do not.

Appealing to God on the basis of self is futile, yet I persist. However, the power of selfishness can only be broken by delivering it to the Cross. The Bible affirms that there I have been crucified with Christ. I know that is true, but it often seems that I take a long time to die.

Photo: Nature-ly Speaking