How Much Would You Pay?

In the past, I have mistakenly believed that if I do what God wants of me then things will go well. That if God is in it, there will be no confrontations, no resistance, no battles to fight. That things will fall into place without any problems. But I was wrong.

The more I study and read the Bible, the more I see that sometimes God puts us right in the middle of problems. 

Take King David, for instance. Samuel anointed him as king, but before he could officially take his place David found himself running for his life and hiding from the king's army. Basically, his own people. Even still, he behaved in ways he felt honored God. He had to fight to gain the respect of the people as he conquered lands for his nation. In the end, he is known as a great man of God and a great king.

How about the apostle Paul? After finally being accepted by the apostles and fellow believers, he was then called to reach the Gentiles. Oh, my. Talk about working between two sides. His years were filled with beatings, prison, shipwreck, and finally living under house arrest in Rome. To the human eye, this looks like failure. But, in the end, his letters written to the churches he visited make up most of the New Testament. His ministry is what many of us lean on in our daily walk.

Lastly, I want to talk about Israel. As was prophesied in the Old Testament, God called His people to return to the land once known as Israel. He told them He would make the land theirs again. But it wasn't handed to them on a silver platter and was far from pristine condition. It took lots of hard work to renew and refresh the ground. And, they had to battle for the old city of Jerusalem where the temple once stood. They knew God wanted them there, but they still had to fight for the final product God promised. This fight continues to wax and wane with time.

Have you ever been put in the middle of a mess? A place where you had to fight for God?

It's something to think about. These days are wild and crazy. What if God is putting us in the middle of a mess? What if we have to fight some battles? How much would you pay or fight for if God places you where the battle is long and hard? With each of the situations above, they had God to direct them. So do we. He is our guide and hope in whatever mess we find ourselves.

Hope in the COVID Storm of 2020

This has been quite a year. Last year I would not have guessed that a plague-like disease would attack and affect the entire world. 

I really don't want to focus on the negative here. But let's just say there has been plenty that has happened that greatly saddens me. I know each of us could give a laundry list of issues. It's definitely been a storm of epic proportions.

Last Christmas season, I attended a meeting in which the leader instructed us to ask the Holy Spirit for a word to help us in the coming year. He gave me the word, "HOPE".

I have leaned on and claimed this word so many times in the last year, it isn't funny. I needed it to get me back on track. I needed the peace it gave me. I needed it when it was clear that truth was being pushed aside for deception. I needed it when I wondered why God was allowing this plague to go on so long.

What a storm!

Normally, when the church talks about being prepared for storms, I think of those that affect us personally. And in the midst of those disruptions of my normal life, it is difficult to look beyond my personal woes or needs. But there are times when storms, especially physical ones, affect many others. Think of hurricanes and tornadoes. Was there such a storm in the Bible?

Yes.

In Mark 4, the disciples and the boats that followed them were all affected by the same storm. It came on them suddenly. Some of them were experienced navigators in that sea...they knew the way the lake waters could act in a storm...they knew their boat. Yet, this storm was different from others. From the passage, we know that it brought fear of death to those in the boat with Jesus. Can you imagine the fear the people in the other boats experienced? They didn't have Jesus with them.

And those with Jesus? They knew Jesus had power to heal. And He spoke with an authority about God in a way they had never heard before. But this storm pushed all that aside and brought on a fear of destruction. All they knew of Jesus, all they had experienced with Him was thrown overboard. 

They didn't understand that God was watching after them and would protect them. They didn't get that Jesus had more ministry ahead of Him. They didn't trust that no matter what happened God would be there with them because they had Jesus on board. In the end, these men got through that storm with Jesus, and faced many other encounters.

Just like these men, we will get through our current global storm. I know I speak for many when I say that I don't wish this storm to ever happen again. The questions we have to think about right now are...Is Jesus in my boat of life? Have I kept everything I know about Jesus with me or thrown it overboard? Do I trust Him in this storm? Do I trust Almighty God to do what is right (no matter what that is)? 

Hope is for all who believe in Jesus. Where are you placing your hope?

Expectations versus Reality

As we head into yet another Christmas season of celebrating the coming of God as a baby to mankind, I have a different perspective to offer. One I hope will make us all think.

At the time of His birth, life was rough. The Roman government could be cruel and unjust to those who were not citizens of the Empire. 

But, the people had a hope. Prophecy from Daniel told them the timing was right for the Messiah to come. They were looking for Him. They expected a dramatic change once He arrived. They thought He would obliterate the Romans and let the Israelites rule the land again.

But that's not what they got. They got a baby born to the wife of a carpenter in a small thought-of-as-insignificant town. A baby who grew up in a place that had a bad reputation. A baby whose life was no different from theirs - he worked a job, lost a father, and had to support a family. There was nothing from the time He arrived that met with the desire and want of the people of God.

Yet, this was God's plan. God came and showed His presence in a powerful way by healing, teaching and spending time with many people. He reached out to the rejected of Israel, to those who thought they were unworthy of God. Even some gentiles and Romans received His attention. He taught anyone who would listen -- explaining the heart of the law. 

He wasn't the warrior they wanted. And when He left, life was still tough and cruel. The Romans were still in charge, and in fact, things got worse for those who picked up where Jesus left off. This was what God wanted.

Do you have a trouble you want to disappear? Do you want God to come in and take away the pain? Do you want God to be a warrior somewhere in your life?

What if...He wants to spend time with you and show you some things? What if...He has other plans through this time? What if...He wants to use this time to reach people in ways He hasn't been able to reach them before?

Life has been tough this year. We have all been affected in various ways. God is here, let's listen. Let's allow Him to birth in us a renewed joy for His presence that comes like the birth of a baby.

Being Asked To Do The Unusual

Have you felt God asking you to do the unusual? Is it something others might think is crazy, or you think would drive others away? Is it hard to see what purpose would be served? Or, does it feel like He's asking too much of you?

Well, God is in the business of doing the crazy. Sometimes God calls us to do something that breaks tradition.

Don't believe me?

Look at John the Baptist.

He was the son of a priest. And not just any priest. His father, Zacharias, was chosen to enter the Holy Place to burn incense before God. His birth was even prophesied at that point, with many witnesses on the other side of the curtain.

At his birth, with bystanders all around, Zacharias sings a song of blessing and prophecy over him. (Luke 1) Those listening would have heard that John was the one who would announce the arrival of the Messiah. That's big.

With that heritage and call on his life, he would have been expected to learn the law in the temple, dress and eat a certain way, and basically follow in his father's footsteps. Did he? 

No.

Instead of wearing robes and eating priestly food - he wore camel skin and ate locusts and honey. Instead of working, teaching and learning in the temple area - he went to the wilderness and grew in the Spirit. Instead of baptizing people in the temple area - he went to the Jordan River and from there his ministry took flight.

What do you think John was thinking? Do you think he had an easy time stepping away from the norm? As he spent time with God in the wilderness, I'm sure it became easier and second nature to him. But the first step had to be tough to take. 

For me, one of the odd things God asked me to do years ago was to stand up when the rest of the congregation was sitting. The church was not accustomed to people standing when we were scheduled to be sitting. Standing was just not done. But the song being sung was worshipful, and God pressed me to stand. So I did. I was hesitant. I was nervous. And, most of all, unfortunately, I wondered what others would say. 

John got to the point that he didn't care what the temple authorities, who were watching him, thought. In fact, he called them vipers. (Matthew 3) The importance of what John did was to bring the heart of the people back to God - getting them out of the ritual centered habits and opening their hearts to receive the Word of God. He represented the Old Covenant and turned over the reins to Jesus the one who brought the New Covenant. 

I can't say that standing up in church during a spirit-filled song fits into a greater plan of God's... BUT... who knows? Each time He has asked, it has become easier. Now, it is more second nature to me and I don't worry what others will think or say.

Is God calling you to stand or to do something different from anything you've ever done? I hope you realize you are not alone. Do it, even if you're shaking in your boots. Who knows...maybe that one simple act is the key to something bigger in God's plan.

Fighting Fear

Are you feeling afraid right now?

Never before have we had a time when fear is felt by the whole world at the same time. It seems fear is attacking from all angles, and clinging to those it grabs a hold of.

Perhaps these "what if's" have floated through your mind. What if I hug someone or talk to them with my mask off, and I come down with COVID 19 and end up in the hospital for weeks or maybe die? What if my company cuts back more, and I have no income? What if I say the wrong thing to the wrong person and I end up in the middle of a brawl? What if the wrong person is elected president? 

I'm sure I've missed a view worries.

This fear can be so consuming it makes seeing straight difficult. It can be overwhelming and quickly steal one's breath. Almost like a tsunami attacking the soul and spirit. Things that never were a bother, are now.

Before we go any further, please take a slow deep breath.

Fear is not something that comes from God. It's a reaction we have when we look at circumstances from our human eyes. 

What if...we give all these things to God? 

He is the maker of peace...a peace that stands up to the fearful thoughts that want to rob you of joy and happiness.

But how do we get this peace and hang on to it? 

By looking up. By praying and telling Him what is a bother, what is a fear, what is troubling you? Then tell Him, "God, I trust you."

It may not be easy to say, but if you can do it, you will feel better. The fear will clear from your mind and spirit and soul. You'll be able to think clearly. You'll be able to sleep and rest better.

And if you are able, begin to thank Him for all that is happening. Thank Him for the good things that we are experiencing because we had to slow down and spend time at home. Thank Him because in the midst of a storm He will bring us calm. Thank Him for He has not abandoned us and remains our source of hope.

Biggest Questions Ever

Got some questions for you to ponder.

 

1     Do you believe that Jesus is the only way to enter heaven?

 

2    Do you believe that He is coming back so that everyone can see Him?

 

3     What do you want to be caught doing when He returns?    

Now What?

The COVID experience has taken many of us, me included, on a roller coaster of emotions and reactions. Some days have been easier to handle than other days. Tell me, where has your stress been felt? Too many people around? Not enough people around? For me, most of my stress battlefield came from the computer.

Sitting too long in front of a laptop is not what my body is accustomed to. I had to take action. Constantly adjusting my back and posture. Making sure I got up and walked around the house. Drinking water and eating meals to keep the body healthy. These all sound easy enough to do, but they were things that added to my stress level.

My trust over the whole quarantine has been in God. I had no fear in that regard. But, the daily challenge in front of the screen strained me. God’s peace has gotten me through many an hour. And, like everyone else, I have had to remind myself God has this, and good for heaven’s kingdom will come from it.

Even under this stress I tried to focus on the positive rather than the all-too-easy-negative route. Some things I witnessed made a positive focus easy. Watching the number of families out and about, walking, biking, playing together has been heart-warming. I love how this time has brought so many together. Hearing and seeing the church become united in praying against this pestilence is exciting. To watch the numbers of people turning to the church and God during this time has brought tears to my eyes many times.

As we adjust to a new normal, we see that this quarantine is not lasting forever. And as we return, we may experience a stress rebound affect, so to speak…the desire to run away or want to do nothing or even lash out in anger. Even with a positive attitude experienced during this time, we can still react to the release of stress.

Do we have a Biblical example of what to do? Yes.

In 1 Kings 19, Elijah has just finished being part of a huge miracle in God’s destruction of the prophets of Baal. With all that energy exerted he allows fear to take over. He can’t go or give anymore and at the first sign of resistance, he runs away.

He finds a place to rest and sleep. Then God provides food for him. Elijah repeats these actions. And, once re-energized he begins to walk it out. At the end of that walk he talks it out with God. Then he was ready to go again, and God starts him off with a small task to fulfill.

We need to keep this in mind as we start life over again. Don’t be afraid to allow yourself to rest and eat a little before you ask God for directions in what to do next. Don’t be in a hurry to get back in the fast lane of activities. There’s no rush. What God has for you to do will come. And it may be a small thing. Just be willing to take the course  He has for you.