Time for Father

Time is the most interesting thing in God’s creation.  You can’t stop it, you can’t store it up in a container, and you can’t make it go backward.  Time just keeps marching on.

Our culture is so consumed with time.  We schedule so much of our day that it seems we run out of time.  We live according to IPhones, IPads, and Daily Planners.  Some hire professionals to help them learn how to manage their time so they can fit in all they need to do and have a few moments to do what they want to do.  Sadly, it isn’t working.

The results are tragic.  Families are disintegrating because they’re not given enough of our time.  The roadways are crammed with impatient drivers needing to get to the next item on their agenda.  People themselves are slowly losing their sanity because they’re trying to do too much with what little time they have.  Too many have snapped and have become dangerous and violent (as Paul predicted – Romans 1:28-32).

Is this any way to live?  Can this be the abundant life Jesus longed to provide for us (John 10:10)?  Is there an answer to our time-crunch dilemma?  Yes a very simple one.  I saw a bumper sticker the other day that bore a reminder that will help.  It read, “Let go and let God.”  That simple, yet soothing assertion sums it all up; now if only we would take the time to try it.  Saying it is one thing; agreeing to it is one thing; posting it so others can read it is one thing; thinking it an awesome thought is one thing; Doing / Practicing it is quite another.

Heed the words of the shepherd: “He makes me lie down in green pastures” (Psalm 23:2).  Life gets out of hand when we get too busy and occasionally our loving Father steps in and allows a family crisis, or an illness, or a job loss; something that forces us to stop the madness and reflect on our relationships; they need our time, not these other things.  Lives are only put back in order when we stop and put God back into them where He belongs.  This is one of the reasons He made the Sabbath Day holy.  He knew that we would get caught up with life, forget Him and try to go it alone.  It’s sad though that He had to command its observance.  And if you’re honest, you know that one day a week isn’t enough; to have the wherewithal to fight sin and stay on the road to holiness you need a daily dose of healthy God-time.

Look at your schedules, calendars and appointments.  Do you see God anywhere in there?  If not, it’s no wonder you’re harried and ready to collapse.  Surely there is something you can set aside to allow more time for what really matters (prayer, worship, relief effort, family & friends, Scripture, meditation).  Try Letting go of those things that restrict holiness and Letting God transport you to a richer, fuller, more rewarding life with Him. He promises to bless you for the attempt – and you will be amazed at how much more fulfilling and enjoyable and less stressed your life can be.

Doug

He Did It!

     Isn’t it exciting to finish an enormous task?  When you complete a job to perfection don’t you want to rejoice and share your joy with others?  Finishing a hard job brings a sense of satisfaction.  It’s only natural that a person would want to celebrate.

     However, there come other times when the task has been difficult and plagued by many setbacks and disappointments.  In this case, the end of the project is welcomed with a sigh of relief.  Most people just want to sit back, get comfortable, and enjoy a moment of rest and relaxation.  Satisfaction comes from knowing that you did your best.  

    This second example is what I understand to be the case with Jesus when He uttered those famous words from the cross:  “It is finished” (John 19:30).  After saying these words (only 1 word in the original language), He drifted away into eternity.  No excitement.  No parades.  No trophies.  No celebration.  An earthquake, yes.  A torn veil, yes.  Dead bodies walking around, yes.  But no dancing in the streets.  Only Satan and his forces were having fun.

     Yet three days later . . . He’s alive!  He did it!  Satan and his forces are destroyed!  So let the festivities begin!

     The disciples came to life.  Their leader had risen from the dead, never more to die!  The promise of doing the same for them offered renewed hope.  They weren’t the same bunch of guys.  Jesus brought salvation/rescue from sin; a real cause for celebrating.

     How is it, then, that many Christians aren’t “jumping for joy” and celebrating?  I wonder.  Jesus took our place and bore our punishment and shame so that we could go free and live an abundant life.  This was His reason for coming and He did it to perfection (John 17:4).  Shouldn’t His disciples be rejoicing? 

     We need to be happy that God has offered salvation to anyone who by faith puts on Christ (Galatians 3:27).  So feel the relief.  Share it with someone.  As a man stuck in a dark, smelly dungeon once said, “Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again:  Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4).

Doug

Come What May

            “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”    (Habakkuk 3:17-18)

 

            God calls for disciples who persevere no matter what. In the verse above, the prophet had just received word from God that his entire world was just about to be destroyed by an enemy invader (Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon). Will his faith be able to endure it? Will he continue to trust in God? From his own words we can see that he had the basis needed to succeed come what may.

            You see, faith means trusting in God regardless of the circumstances. And these were dire circumstances indeed. The Bible is a collection of stories and examples of people experiencing life with and without God. Those whose faith endured through seemingly unbearable episodes were enabled to accomplish amazing things. They are the heroes of the faith that we honor. A good example is Queen Esther who acted on behalf of her people who were being oppressed and in danger of being annihilated. She, herself was enjoying great luxury and was oblivious to the threat at hand. When Mordecai urged her to use her position and influence to alter the outcome, she refused. Unwilling to risk her life by barging in on her husband the king, she had to be prodded to consider the strength of her faith. Did God place her there for her own comfort and ease? Or was she in place to assist God in bringing about a great salvation (4:12-14)? She chose to put her faith in God and act on the Jews’ behalf and let come what may; “If I perish, I perish” she concluded (4:16). And God rescued His people in astounding fashion.

            Could you say and do the same if you were left totally destitute or if your life was on the line? Would you be able to keep your faith in God and press on no matter what happens?

            It’s important to pause often and consider; how strong is your commitment to Christ?

                        Will it endure a bad economy?

                        Can it withstand financial hardships?

                        Will it survive a devastating health crisis?

                        Can it carry on if you lose everything you own?

                        Will it outlast the loss of a loved one?

            Or does your loyalty to God demand certain “perks”?

                        Good health; Good kids; A good-paying job; A nice home, etc.

            Reality Check:

            (1) God doesn’t owe you any of these things. They are blessings/gifts He bestows generously as He sees fit. All you need is His grace (2 Corinthians 12:9).

            (2) He isn’t punishing you if He chooses not to bless you with them. He knows what you need and what you can handle much more than you do (1 Corinthians 10:13).

            God’s kingdom can best be advanced when His disciples trust Him to deliver no matter what happens. His power and might are best seen when He rescues from situations that are most dismal. There is a lost world out there needing and seeking God’s rescue. Will your faith endure so that this can be accomplished? It definitely will if you keep the end in mind (heaven) and trust God to carry you through each day come what may.

Doug

The Joy of God’s Salvation

                One of Satan’s potent weapons that he uses against us is distraction.  And he uses it very effectively.  He knows that all he has to do is get me to look around at the things of this world and off of my goal and I become easy prey for discouragement or pride or apostasy.  Therefore, every so often I find it necessary to stop what I’m doing and take an inventory of my life.  Similar to the words of a popular hymn: “Count Your Blessings.”

            In Psalm 51:12, David makes a special request of God.  This is after he was confronted with his sin with Bathsheba.  David asks God to restore to him the joy of God’s salvation.  And I began to wonder how encouraging it would be to write down all I can think of that encompasses the joy of God’s salvation.

Since space here is limited I’ve listed my favorites:

   Our sins are forgiven.

   We are adopted as children of God.

   We are co-heirs with Christ.

            God’s Spirit is our counselor, guide, companion, etc.

            We have the hope of eternal life.

            We no longer have to fear death or what lies beyond.

   We are gaining a better understanding of God’s Word.

   We are in a growing relationship with God.

   We have help when facing trials and temptations.

   We have peace of mind in a confused world.

            We are loved and can now show others true love.

   We have been reconciled to God through Christ.

   We have the privilege of helping God save souls.

            Wow, I could go on but I hope you can see that there is much more to be joyful about in our salvation than just forgiveness of sin.  God has done so much to help us improve our lives here and now as well as for later on in heaven.  So, in order to combat Satan’s weapon of distraction, take a time out and list the joys of His salvation.

            Doing so helps to regain our focus.  Listing the blessings makes the problems of life seem very small indeed.  This is exactly what Satan is hoping we will avoid doing.  And it’s what God continually encourages us to do (Hebrews 12:2).

Doug

Who Was Immanuel?

       There is an apparent discrepancy in the Scriptures concerning the name of the Messiah.  In Isaiah 7:14, the prophet said that his name was to be Immanuel (Emmanuel in the Greek text).  But in the birth announcements of Matthew and Luke, the name given was Jesus.  Jesus we know, but who was this Immanuel? 

     To understand, you must be aware of what the names mean and what the original audience understood about each one.  The name Immanuel means “God with us.”  Since the time of the Exodus, God was revealing Himself to His people as a God that wanted a close relationship with His people.  He wanted to be with them and to fellowship with them, to protect them from harm, to bless them with material and spiritual blessings, to be their guide and their loving parent.  He taught His people that if they continued with Him, He would never leave, forsake, or fail them.  The name Immanuel in Isaiah 7:14 is the code name that God used to remind them of His constant presence and ultimate deliverance from sin which would bring them back into fellowship with Him.

     Jesus was the fulfillment of this code name Immanuel.  Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua which means “Yahweh (God) saves.”  John begins his gospel by identifying Jesus as God in the flesh - with His people.  Jesus’ death on the cross was designed to show God’s commitment in creating for Himself a nation of holy people to fellowship with and care for.  He was the final fulfillment of every promise God made  (see 2 Cor. 1:20). 

     Who, then, is Immanuel? 

     He is God living with His people (Ephesians 1:13, 14). 

     And who is Jesus?  He is the God who came to earth to save His people from their sins. The same One who is now waiting for the proper time to come again and escort redeemed souls home to heaven. 

     They’re both the same loving God; just two different roles, thus two different names.

     Thank you Lord God, Immanuel, Jesus, for such an “indescribable gift” (2 Cor. 9:15).

Doug

Full Protection Gear

A major blessing of being in Christ is knowing that we are never alone. God has promised to be with us every moment of every day. When problems arise (and they always do/will) it may seem like we’ve been abandoned; like He’s too busy with other things; like He doesn’t care. It’s especially trying when the reality of our unseen, spiritual war with Satan and his cohorts rears its ugly head – civil unrest within our cities, terrible diseases, increasing crime, mad gunmen killing children, fanatics filming themselves butchering people, etc. These are the times when we must deafen our ears to and turn our eyes away from the enemy’s propaganda and rally every ounce of faith to feel the presence of the One who has never failed on a promise.

What helps me at these times is to be reminded of the pieces of protecting “armor” that He provides in ample supply. Just as in physical life our military and police forces require armament and ammunition to protect themselves from harm, to aid their comrades who are also under fire, and to be able to successfully complete their mission(s), so Christian soldiers and peacemakers are given full protection gear in order to fight and win their spiritual battles.

These pieces are listed by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:13-18:

1. Truth – Character & Integrity will embolden our courage when all else fails.

2. Righteousness – Doing what is right will win every battle.

3. Readiness – Practice prepares us to fight and defeat the enemy.

4. Faith – Trust God (your leader) to fight with you to the very end.

5. Salvation – There’s no fear of death to hold us back.

6. Holy Spirit – The One Satan fears the most fights the battle for us.

7. Prayer – Keep communication supply lines open.

There is one catch though: in order to survive your battles with Satan, you must “put on” and learn to use every single piece – all of the time. You will surely die if you only use a couple, a few, or almost all of them. Practicing using each of these spiritual pieces of armor is God’s way of surrounding you with His continuous presence – it’s the most effective way there is to preserve your life. The more you mature in your faith, the easier the task of fighting Satan will become and the enemy’s propaganda will be less and less of a distraction.

So, when life seems dark and dreary, employ the full protection gear that God provides by counting your blessings and naming them one by one. And because of His promise to be with you always, all you really need to do is to stand against the devil and you will soon watch him fleeing from you (James 4:7).

Now I don’t know about you, but I consider that to be a major blessing indeed.

Doug

The Known God

            Can humans really answer the tough questions about God?  Does He exist?  What is He like?  Will He really punish sinners?  Can He forgive me?  Does He know what I’m going through?  Does He care? 

            Comprehending God and His existence is not difficult.  Through His Creation and in many Scriptures He has provided unlimited proofs about Himself.  Paul says that it is built into us to search Him out and find Him (to know Him - Romans 1:19-20).  So, we “see” the results of His presence by looking at His creation and noticing His work within and around us.  The questions above, then, are only “tough” because (1) we don’t know Him as we should, and (2) we do our best to make knowing Him “tough.”

            Paul’s sermon in Acts 17:22-31 is an excellent discussion on God’s constant desire to be known and to be loved by His creatures.  His address was in response to an idol he saw while wandering around the city of Athens; the one inscribed “TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.”  So, when asked to answer for his weird beliefs, he chose to make known this seemingly unknown God.  He provides a wealth of information, still available to us today so that we too may know Him:

            He is the creator of everything – that includes you (17:24);

            He is all-sufficient – doesn’t need anything from us (17:25);

            He provides all of our needs – not the other way around (17:25);

            He has established all of the rules – we are to live in step with Him (17:26);

            He made us with the desire to search Him out (17:27);

            Our total existence is all wrapped up in Him (17:28);

            Repentance allows us to return to Him for healing (17:29-30).

            All we need to know about God, He has revealed to us.  The Scriptures are full of accounts from God Himself and the testimony of faithful eyewitnesses.  And Jesus Himself was the visible information of God’s true nature lived out in human form (John 14:9; Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3; 1 John 4:9-10).  Jesus proved God’s desire to make Himself known to you.

            God has also done everything possible to bring you forgiveness and to restore the loving relationship He desires to have with you.  All that’s needed is to recognize the damage your sins have caused, and return to God so He can restore you to your original created purpose. 

            Now, honestly, what more do you need to know in order to make this choice?

Doug

The Most Basic Ingredient

     I remember trying to make cookies or cake when I was younger.  My mom made it look so easy.  Why shouldn’t I be able to do it too?  Yet, my abilities produced things that looked and tasted like bricks or charcoal.  Somehow I forgot a needed ingredient - or maybe I added too much of something.

     Could this be the reason for so much turmoil in many relationships?  One or both partners forgetting (or neglecting) to provide a necessary ingredient to their marriage such as patience, or forgiveness, or spending time together.  Or, worse, one or both being unwilling to bring in the attitudes that help people grow together.

     And there is one ingredient that will help make all relationships successful.  The Bible is full of examples of this all-powerful element.  If it is added daily and not taken for granted, people bond and grow and mature.  The most basic ingredient that all relationships need is God.

     The spiritual outlook of each person involved in a relationship cannot be discounted.  As an individual grows in his/her relationship with the Father, all of the other relationships they are blessed with grow also.  But the opposite is true too.  If someone drifts farther away from God, most, if not all of his/her relationships will suffer.

     Is there someone in your life that you’re having a truly difficult time with?  Take a look at where you are spiritually in your walk with God.  Or try to see where the other person is in their spiritual life.  Chances are good that one or both of you needs to return to Him and resolve some inner troubles first.  Then you will have the strength to handle the other conflicts that crop up in this life. 

     Jesus actually said it better: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).

Doug

Learning to Depend Upon God

            David was not ready to be king when Samuel anointed him.  He knew nothing about leading people and the issues involved in running a government.  He only knew how to take care of livestock and defend them against predators.

            David needed training to prepare him for being Israel’s king.  He showed courage and faith when facing a giant.  He watched the proceedings of government while playing music for the king.  He observed military strategy as Saul’s armor bearer.  Eventually he became a soldier and was soon promoted to an officer.  And David also learned loyalty (with Jonathan) and diplomacy (becoming the king’s son-in-law).

            But there was still another element he would need to succeed at being God’s man on the throne.  Though he had already built a great deal of faith and courage upon God, he needed to learn how to be totally dependent upon Him.  You see, he was only going to be successful by learning how to rely completely upon God.  This is where Saul (his predecessor) had failed.

            His lessons took place out in the wilderness away from the distractions that come with living the “high life” in the palace.  It was through the painful and lonely experiences of living off of the land and sleeping in caves and being unjustly treated that David learned where to turn for help and comfort.  It was here that he had the opportunity to whip a group of malcontents into an elite fighting force.  It was during this time that he learned how to control his temper and use his talents to serve others.  When he finally became king, he was ready to depend upon God’s strength.

            We have to be willing to face the same preparation for our spiritual lives today if we expect to be successful in life.  All of the wonderful blessings promised by God are for those who are willing to learn His ways and depend totally upon Him for everything.  He will not just “plop” nice things down into our laps.  Instead, He challenges us to “work out our own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12) so that we build courage and faith and strive to take good care of our spiritual treasures.

            Therefore instead of complaining and worrying about the ways God leads us, strive to see them as opportunities and stepping stones to becoming totally dependent on Him.  He has proven to be trustworthy and dependable.  Mature your faith to the point where you can easily see that He is the only One who provides the power to love, to save, and to help us be victorious.

Doug