God, Remove Our Laziness

Today was a difficult day. An ice storm presented many challenges. The biggest challenge was the entrance to the driveway. 

The city had plowed the street, but the plow threw a large amount of snow at the end of our drive and it had to be cleared in order to get the car out. My wife had a prescription that had to be picked up from the pharmacy, so I had no choice but to clear out the drive. What a chore!

Fortunately, I had purchased a heavy chipping bar a few years ago to do another project. Using the bar was quite difficult because of my back pain. Removing the snow and ice would have been impossible without that bar. 

Here I am at church because Judy has a woman's Bible study. It was necessary for me to clear out the drive in order for us to drive to church for her meeting. The frustrating part is that, other than the leader and my wife, there was only one other individual who showed up.

Why is there little commitment in some churches? Is it the last days before Christ's return? Lord, help me to understand.

Recorded music hinders individuals from being blessed by using their gifts and talents for Him. Some churches do not explore the talents and gifts that God has given to its members. It makes for lazy congregations.

As an example, during some prayer meetings, the only one who prays, is the pastor. Instead of recorded music, why not have members of the congregation request a favorite hymn to sing. Many of the recorded songs are slow and boring and way too many choruses.

The ultimate act of laziness would be to have a “recorded” preacher. One might as well stay at home and listen to a message on TV. If one were sick or unable to attend because of other health-related issues, that would be a completely different issue.

Lord, help us not to become lazy in our faith! May we break out the crowbars of life and chip away at that which hinders us from breaking free of enjoying our life in Christ.

Thank God For Friends

Everyone one has had “One Of Those Days.” I had one this past Sunday. You would think that “The Lord's Day” would be something special. Well, it was, but not in the way you would expect. The moment we came back from church, everything went to pieces. 

There was a cup on the kitchen table that had been there for some time with water in it. I got up from the table to do something and accidentally knocked it over sending water across the table getting a bunch of papers soaked and on to the floor. It took awhile to wipe up all the water and get things back into order. 

Our daughter then decided to take the car and to an engagement with a friend. However, with all the snow and ice she got stuck in the drive and I had to help get her free. It was not fun and I had to shovel, chip ice, and use kitty litter (which was hers and she didn't want me to use it) to get traction. I finally got her free and came back into the house to use the bathroom. 

 After flushing the toilet, I noticed the water rising and not going down eventually going all over the bathroom floor. 

 LORD!!! I NEED SOME HELP HERE!!! GIVE ME A BREAK!!

After wiping up all the toilet water, I checked my email....I know it was of the Lord, for I saw a note from a Christian friend who wanted to know if I would help him rebuild his computer. Normally, I would have said, “Not today, it's the Lord's day.” 

 

 However, something told me to say, “Yes, I need to get away from the house and do something for someone else.” As it turned out, we had a wonderful time of fellowship together in the Lord. He met my needs and I met some of his. The Lord does work in strange ways. 

 

 It truly was THE LORD'S DAY!

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Cor. 12:9

Joy To the World

I first though about The Pain of Loss. Then it occurred to me that I frequently think about pain, suffering and loss. However, rather thinking about the negative side of life, wouldn't it be better to focus on the positives of life. Isn't that the message of Christ?

Of Jesus, the angel said, 

Luke 2:10 "But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;"

The world is in the midst of the celebration of the season of Christmas. However, the true message of Christ's birth has been lost in the midst of parties, gift-giving and all that the world has to offer to try to make this season meaningful.

The true meaningfulness of Christmas is found in the following verses of Luke Ch. 2:11-14 - "for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.  And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

Without Christ in one's life, there is no meaningful, lasting peace.

Grace Beyond Understanding

"My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness."

2 Corinthians 12:9

 

 

Have you ever found yourself in a situation that made you feel inadequate or incompetent?  It is such a struggle to stop focusing on our own abilities.

 

Jesus made it clear that without Him, we are incapable of handling what life throws at us.  However, with Him, it is clear that we capable of handling life's struggles.  We can do what needs to be done with His guidance and direction.

 

In this truth, is the answer to all our anxieties, fears, and insecurities.  No matter what we do in life, first go to our Lord in prayer and lay it all before Him. 

 

By allowing Him to work in and through us, we can achieve the success that would otherwise be impossible.  It is His power that provides us with what we need to "do life."

 

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, I don't fully understand it, but I thank you for the struggles of life that come my way for through them, I get to know You better and I am better able to minister to those around me.

Wheat and Weeds

24 Then Jesus used another story to teach them. Jesus said, “God’s kingdom is like a man who planted good seed in his field.

Any farmer in his right mind would only plant good seeds.  We are planting seeds in our life moment by moment.  We plant mental, emotional, and physical seeds that affect our life every day.  

There are seeds of anger, wrath, jealousy, envy, hatred, bitterness, immorality and all of the other behaviors of the sinful nature.  

  

25 That night, while everyone was asleep, the man’s enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat and then left.

How vulnerable we are during those times when we are unaware of what is going on around us.  There were times with Judy, being in the hospital that she was totally unaware of what was happening to her because of unconsciousness.  It is only by faith that we are trusting in the hospital staff, that they did whatever was in her best interest.

One of the things I did was to get online and inform myself of her condition and what needed to be done and how to do it.

In the spiritual realm, there are many people who are walking by faith trusting in their spiritual leaders that they are being led correctly.  The only way that can happen is to be spiritually aware -- familiar with God’s Word, to be able to discern what God is revealing to us.

One of the indicators of spiritual misleading is being left alone.  Notice that after the enemy came and planted the weeds, then the  enemy left.  No reason to stick around.  The damage was done and left to bring about the harmful results.

For Judy, nurses came and went.  In the beginning she received round the clock attention.  Not so much the longer she was there.  Her needs are different.  At times she would get frustrated because she didn’t receive the constant attention that she did at first.  She learned new ways of living.  At some point she was released and was almost completely reliant upon caring for herself.  We were thankful that that day came.  However, there are some people who have been injured so badly that they will be cared for for the rest of their life.

I remember that right after I received Christ, the Lord was personally active in my life.  I took so much for granted.  Growth in Christ was fun and games.  Like childhood, growth was filled with spiritual excitement.  I had no idea as a young child in Christ that difficult times of growth lay ahead of me.  I was saved in 1972 and my how things have changed.  My relationship with Christ is the same, but my walk grows more and more by faith.  

I was the pastor of a local church for a few years and the comment I heard time and again from the people was that the previous pastor deserted them.  Interesting thing was that many of those people deserted us.

There are many people who have never been taught to care for themselves spiritually.  They have become totally dependent upon the pastor or teachers to provide spiritually for them.  How sad, but they are spiritual invalids.

It has always been my desire to help people to learn to “feed themselves.”  That’s the only way to grow strong in Christ.

The most difficult thing in the Christian life is to come to the realization that growth in Christ never ends.  Try to convince a 5 year old that they don’t know everything.  Try to convince a teenager that they don’t know everything.  Try to convince each one of us that there are still things to learn.

I have learned so much through Judy’s illness, but the one thing I have learned is that I don’t have a clue about many things in life.  Watching the doctors and nurses in their craft was so humbling.  I thank God for them and what they are able to do.  Watching a nurse (male & female) clean up Judy’s bodily functions was one of the most humbling experiences of my life.  I had no idea the sacrifice and labor involved!

26 Later, the wheat grew, and heads of grain grew on the plants. But at the same time the weeds also grew.

Like so many things in life, there is the good and bad growing together.  Where there is love there is hate.  Where there is sacrifice there is selfishness.  Where is joy there is sadness.

Where there is growth in Christ, Satan does all he can to hinder that growth.  He does so by getting us to question the goodness of God.  Remember in the garden God provided all they needed to survive and Satan got Eve to doubt.  God warned them that if they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they would die.  Satan came and got Eve to question God’s goodness in the fact that God withheld something good from them.

27 Then the man’s servants came to him and said, ‘You planted good seed in your field. Where did the weeds come from?’

28 “The man answered, ‘An enemy planted weeds.’

“The servants asked, ‘Do you want us to go and pull up the weeds?’

29 “He answered, ‘No, because when you pull up the weeds, you might also pull up the wheat.

There were many time in the life of our daughter that I saw certain behavior that I selfishly tried to eliminate.  It only created greater hostility between us.  Although it is painful, I realized the only way she would learn was to let her experience the consequences of her own decisions.

30 Let the weeds and the wheat grow together until the harvest time. At the harvest time I will tell the workers this: First, gather the weeds and tie them together to be burned. Then gather the wheat and bring it to my barn.’”

One day in the life of each individual, there will come a “harvest time.”

We can’t do whatever we want with our bodies without one day  experiencing the consequences.

Doctor’s offices, hospitals, and lawyer’s offices are filled with people who didn’t take life’s consequences seriously.

Sometimes, we can’t do it all ourselves and we need help.  The Lord is waiting on us to call upon Him for His help.  However, calling upon the Lord requires humility and an admission that we need help.

PRAYER:

Dear God, I've come so far over the past year, But I also have so far to go I need Your guidance.  I promise I'll be quiet.  I'm not a patient person, but I know You can help me through all of my pain.

Whatever it is that is making me feel like this God, this is me asking for Your help.  This is me saying I can't do this by myself.  Just please help protect me....from me.

Show me the light at the end of the tunnel.  I know I will get through everything I’m facing because I know You are going to be there with me.

Anyway, I thought I'd just say thanks one last time and ask one more time...please help.

God's Provision

I got married to Miss Right, I just didn't know her first name was Always.

I didn’t realize what I had found until we said, “I Do!”  Through thick and thin we are “One.”  At times we are a bit “cracked” like the foundation of our home, but in the Lord, repair is possible.  In our case most of the finances for the foundation repair  came as the result of an unexpected resource  God provides in unexpected and strange ways, but nonetheless,  God provides.

LOST KEYS

Judy went to Krogers recently and sometimes I go in with her and sit on a chair next to the 5/3rd bank window.  As I started to sit down, I noticed a set of keys on the floor by the chair.  Someone was not going to be very happy when they went to their car or would go to the check-out and present their Kroger’s ID tag.

I told a bank teller what I found in case someone should ask, and then took the keys to Kroger’s customer service desk.  I then went back to my seat and watched everyone who came by to see if they were looking for something lost.

There were some who came to the ATM machine and searched in their pockets or purse, but always found what they were looking for.

Finally a woman came to the area looking around and asked if I had seen a set of keys.  I said, "Yes mam, I took them to the service counter.”  She was so relieved and greatly thanked me.

Before she left the store, she came by again and thanked me.  How relieved she was that the lost had been found!  As I tried to do a bit of witnessing to her, her face went “blank.”  Oh well, God will use it sometime in her future.

It was a joyful experience to help someone in desperate need.  God used me to help and bring joy to that woman.  How can/does God use you to bring joy and help to someone?  What brings you joy?

Luke 15:32  It was meet (necessary) that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.  Oh, how happy she was when she got her lost keys and how glad this man was when he discovered that his brother was alive.

What joy Jesus gives us in life as we walk in truth by faith.

Too, we never know how we are going to impact someone’s life by leading them to Christ.  They don’t know how “lost” they are until they are found.

3Jn_1:4  The Apostle John wrote:  “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”

Everyone experiences joy in Christ.  However the sinner's joy is momentary.  Someday there will be a day of reckoning:  Job 20:5  that the exulting of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless but for a moment?

However for the believer there is a difference:  Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 21:6  For you make him most blessed forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence.   In Christ I am blessed forever and have great joy in the presence of the Lord!

When we bought our home, we were so happy.  However, over a period of time, we have discovered that home ownership is not without its problems.  Just as it is in our spiritual life, life presents its moments of trial and growth.

A friend once told me that they had an all-electric home....everything in it was charged.  

In our home we've had roof problems (results of a storm) shingles had to be replaced as well as the sheets of plywood underneath.  We've had termite problems, and most recently a leaking foundation which pastor Dan recently spent two days fixing for us (hopefully.  It will take a great storm to see just how well things are.  What a truth.  It takes the storms of life to see just how leak-proof our faith is.  

However, home repairs have costs which we have to leave in the Lord's hands by faith.  In the same way, our salvation in Christ was very costly.  Jesus bore our sins in His body on the cross of Calvary.  How painful it must have been for His Father to witness what His Son went through on the cross.  The cost was very great and painful!  

Dan came to me last Sunday morning and said, “Boy, am I sore!”  His soreness came as a result of bearing upon his body the necessary labors of working to fix our foundation leaking problem.  Thank you!, brother.  It cost him a great deal and it was costly for us.  Cracked foundations don’t fix themselves and our sin problem didn’t get fixed without the labors of Jesus Christ!

We certainly didn't realize at the time, but the lightning strike provided an opportunity for insurance finances to help with the foundation issues.  God provides and He will make up the difference.

My mind often works like lightning...one brilliant flash and it's gone and its lasting results are often devastating.  However, when it is in the hands of the Lord the results are a blessing.  

Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Job 36:32  He covers his hands with the lightning and commands it to strike the mark.  

The lightning strike was not an accident, and it struck the mark that God had intended.  Talk about the sovereignty of God -- that was it!

Foundations

Psalm 89:14  Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.

Someone once told me that the area in which we live was once used by the city as a place of refuse (a dumping ground).  If that be the case, then it makes sense why so many homes in our area have foundation problems.  There is no solidness to the ground.  I don’t know if that is true or not, but it does provide a wonderful illustration for the need to have a solid spiritual foundation for our personal lives.

We can’t begin to build a solid spiritual life if our foundation is filled with garbage.  Our lives must be built on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ.  On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand - resulting in cracked foundations and leaking water.

Therefore, broken foundations are sometimes the indication of sin, laziness and spiritual poverty.  Proverbs 24:30-34  I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.  Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction.  A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

However, those who have turned to Christ, are looking to Him for a meaningful life - Luke 6:48-49  He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.  But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

How can I build a solid foundation?

There are three virtues that can form the base of a solid foundation that guides your life. They are Faith, Hope, and Love.  They are best used in our everyday lives as Service, Inspiration, and Trust (SIT).

SIT on it to get more out of life.

No. 1 – Service (Love) is the starting point for your spiritual foundation. Since Love is the most powerful emotion at our disposal, it will be the anchor that holds everything together.  When we commit to a mindset of service in our work, family life, and other areas something special happens...Love = Service.

A humble, spiritual balance helps us meet the needs of others.  When we by faith seek to serve others, service comes back to us in multiple areas.  You can’t outgive God!

No. 2 – The second character quality that builds upon our foundation is Inspiration.  Inspiration is a form of Hope.  Inspiration brings joy and promise to us those we meet.   Inspiration is a belief that something better is to come (it is the Moffitt Scottish motto-Spero Meloria).  It presents a life that is positive.  In Christ, we can be assured that something better is waiting for us in the future.

Simply telling someone they are amazing can be unbelievably inspiring. Try it and be prepared for a surprisingly positive reaction in return.

The term inspiration can be broken down into two words – In Spirit.  When you Inspire, it rebounds back to us in all kinds of fantastic ways. Look for it.   Don’t put down, but rather build up.

No. 3 – Trust, a form of Faith, is the ability to rely the Lord to help us meet our needs in due time.

Trust is the opposite of control.  Trust is the process of surrendering to another knowing that our needs will be met at the right time. Trust allows for space to receive instead of attempting to direct the outcome.  When we Trust, trust comes back to us in many reaffirming ways.

All in all, the virtues of Service, Inspiration, and Trust are designed to help us build a solid foundation beneath our feet.  It might move, it might crack, but it will never crumble.

You might fall, but you will always have the ability to get up because your foundation is supporting you.  When you get in situations of continual frustration and suffering, it’s usually because one of these virtues (Faith, Hope Love (Service, Inspiration, Trust)  is lacking in our life.

CLOSING:

Ask, how can I  inspire the person who is at odds with me, or trust that this situation will work out for the best?

Direct your thoughts and actions to building a solid spiritual foundation to support you.  Know that all the decisions I make are in harmony with God and are always working in my favor and to give me strength to courageously stand and face any circumstance that comes my way.

As we trust the Lord in the midst of life circumstances it will all work for us instead of against us.

Psalm 9:-10  The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

PRAYER:

God use me to help and bring encouragement and joy to others who have lost their keys, been struck by lightning, or whose foundation is on shaky ground.

God’s Word - D. L. Moody and the Titanic

One of the most famous stories of history is the story of the sinking of the Titanic.

Many of you know that the Titanic hit an iceberg at 11:40 p.m. on the night of April 14, 1912 and sank  just over two-and-a-half hours later.  It wasn't the visible part of the iceberg that sunk the ship, it was the hidden part beneath the surface that ripped into the hull and caused her sink.

It is the hidden things in life that often give us the greatest spiritual problems.

Hummm? Let's see...problems with ants, roaches, roof replaced, basement leaks, back porch roof leaks, air conditioner broke, car in serious need of repair, lawn mower and weed-whacker broke, back and ankle problems, serious yard maintenance, and gutter problems. I'm sure I've forgotten something...oh, yes hit by lightning.

God's provision.  We were given a lawn mower, youth from church and a few adults took care of the yard and fixed the gutter and some others said they will help me fix the leaking basement.  I bought a nice electric weed-whacker, roof repair was paid for by insurance, had AC fixed to the tune of $300.00 (God will provide), back, ankle, back porch roof, and car repair -- God will provide.  We must walk by faith. It's all we have and that's enough.  Oh yes, thanks to Borax and sweeteners, bugs are zapped.  Maybe insurance will rid the tree, yes, waiting on the check!  I can only pray for the rest.

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Last Sunday night....zap bang!  Around 6:50 PM a huge bolt of lightning hit the big oak tree in our back yard. Ripped off bark and wood splinters sending them even into my neighbors yard.  Bolt went into the ground putting a hole in the ground. I was just shutting down my computer and we were heading for dinner.  All electronics seem OK.  The bolt went into the ground putting a hole in the ground which oozed white foam - boiling tree sap.

Reminds me of Job.  Not sure yet -- why us?  At this time only God knows.  He has a reason for everything that happens in our lives. The tree is only about 15 ft. from our back porch with some limbs hanging over it.  What's interesting is that it was only one bolt for the whole storm and it was on us. Freaky!!

Thank you Lord! I know you still love me, but at times, life sure is a struggle.

Oh yea, I forgot...dental and eye-wear needs.

I couldn’t help but to ask myself the question, “Were there Christians on the Titanic?”  I would most certainly believe so.

We all face certain trying circumstances in life. Many which don't make any sense at all, but God will see us through them. Have you thanked God today for your trials? He intends to draw us closer to Him and encourage us to be mindful that whatever comes our way, has been filtered through His loving hands first. To quote someone else..God has perfect timing, never early, never late. It takes a little patience and a lot of faith. But it's always worth the wait. Read Psalm 91:5-16 and Psalm 107:20-31.  Moody read these passages to people who were with him on a sinking ship a few decades before the Titanic disaster. "Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name." Ps. 91:14   Moody and the others made it safely to harbor, but not without some trying circumstances.

Amazing "coincidences" that contributed to the Titanic tragedy:  Numerous details, anyone of which, if it had happened differently, would have prevented the ship from sinking or prevented the loss of so many lives.

• The ship's sailing had been postponed for three weeks. Had she sailed any other time, the iceberg would not have been there.
• If the ship had traveled one mile per hour faster or slower, the iceberg would have been in a different position.
• The iceberg was "blue," the most difficult kind to see.
• The night was moonless -- no light to show the iceberg.
• The night was windless. Wind would have made waves to splash on the iceberg making it more visible.
• Men in the crow's nest had no lookout glasses. They were on the ship, but had been misplaced.
• Even so, the crew saw the iceberg in time to begin turning. If the crew had seen the iceberg 10 seconds sooner, the ship would have missed it.
• If the crew had seen the iceberg ten seconds later, they would have hit it head on, causing damage which would not have sunk the ship. The ship sank because it grazed the berg, slicing open a long section of its side.
• The ship could carry over 3000 people, but had lifeboats for only 1178 (this was all that laws then required). Even so, only 700 people actually got in the lifeboats.
• Perhaps the greatest cause of interest is that people believed it to be "unsinkable."

The great lesson for us is 1 Corinthians 10:12

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.  Pride, overconfidence and greed combined together led to the Titanic disaster.

Not sure yet -- why us? At this time only God knows.  He has a reason for everything in our lives.

All things work together for good.  There is no temptation, but such is common to man, but God is faithful who will not allow us to be tempted (tested) beyond that which we are able to handle, but will with the testing provide a way of escape that we will be able to handle it.

“God has perfect timing, never early, never late.  It takes a little patience and a lot of faith.  But it’s always worth the wait.” - author unknown.