Laughter and Singing

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"You never saw him, yet you love him. You still don't see him, yet you trust him--with laughter and singing." (1Peter 1:8, The Message).

Imagine Peter's delight in watching a generation rise up of those who never saw Jesus -- but yet loved and believed in Him. Not only that, but they believed in the face of great difficulties and strong opposition; they loved and trusted Jesus without seeing any evidence of His presence. And furthermore -- they did all this with laughter and singing!

Their behavior proved their belief. Something far greater than this world held their hearts, and as a result their lives were unleashed with joy and praise -- even though their world was falling apart!

It is indeed a mysterious thing that the Lord does when He lifts the loads we carry through life, and enables us to then lift our heads and see life from His point of view. Yes, we may have to put up with all kinds of aggravations, but we do so realizing that pure gold put in the fire comes out proved pure.

In the same manner, genuine faith put through suffering comes out of it proved genuine. And after all, isn't that what you really want? To be proven pure and genuine?

So whatever is going on is this topsy-turvy world, filled with strife created by greed, lift your vision higher and look unto Jesus. And let your life be marked by laughter and singing -- knowing that God has His eyes on you, and is committed to proving you true.
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The Future Starts Now!

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"What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we've been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven--and the future starts now!" (1 Peter 1:3-4, The Message).

When Jesus came to earth He brought heaven with Him. His mission was thereby half completed. When he died on the cross and rose from the dead, He finished the job and reconciled earth with Heaven. Mission accomplished!

This Good News, called in a more formal tongue The Gospel, has been preserved by God through the ages and preached in every nook and cranny throughout our world. Some believe; some do not. Where do you stand?

For those who do believe -- the future starts now.

The same Jesus who brought heaven to earth, and then reconciled us to God, now brings heaven into your life. And as a result, even though your feet are yet firmly planted upon the ground, your spirit soars to heights of glory as you hear God's voice, see His wonders, learn His Word, experience His power, and fulfill His purposes in your life.

So, what are you waiting for? The future starts NOW!
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Bloom Where You are Planted

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"I am writing to the exiles scattered to the four winds. Not one is missing, not one forgotten." (1 Peter 1:1, The Message).

From one point of view we see a national disaster -- hundreds of thousands of citizens uprooted from their homes by an occupying army, and driven like cattle into the highways and byways; scattered to the four winds, and now known only as exiles. That's a rather bleak picture.

But from another point of view we see something altogether glorious. The word for scattered in the Greek New Testament actually means "to be sown as seed." In other words, while they may be viewed by man as exiles from their country; they were seen by God as seeds planted in new fields of glory.

If we would learn to always see our shifting circumstances from God's point of view, we would not be caught up in the drift of a culture that stirs up strife and debate over things that inconvenience us. Rather, we would live as thankful people, praising God for His faithfulness in all things at all times -- and we would bloom where we are planted.

God knows who you are, where you are, and what His plans for you are. If you will but humbly acknowledge that He is in control, a shift will occur in your heart and in your outlook -- sunshine will break through the dark clouds and your life will sprout with new purpose and great effectiveness.
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On Assignment by Jesus

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"I, Peter, am an apostle on assignment by Jesus, the Messiah" (1 Peter 1:1 The Message).

Delightful thing this is, to be on assignment by Jesus. The word means to appoint a particular person to a specific use. Os Guinness wrote, "Our passion is to know that we are fulfilling the purpose for which we are on earth. All other standards of success - wealth, power, position, knowledge, friendships - grow tiny and hollow if we do not satisfy this deeper longing."

Deep in every heart is the God-planted desire to live a life that makes a difference. Many spend their lives looking for that one things to which they can give their all. Somehow we human beings are never happier than when we are expressing the deepest gifts that are truly us. The truest way to fully express those gifts is by being on assignment by Jesus.

How wonderful it is to be able to say, "I am on assignment by Jesus." All my talents, gifts, abilities, experiences, discoveries, longings, dreams, thoughts, and labors are focused on doing His bidding at this time, in this place, for this reason.

May the grace of God so work in your life to bring you to the place of your assignment!
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In the Midst of Regular Work

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"It was their regular work." (Matthew 4:18, The Message).

Here we have two guys minding their own business, when suddenly, and unexpectedly they are interrupted by a preacher. We could finish the story fifty different ways, but none would be as astounding as what actually happened after this brief encounter.

For the two guys were Peter and Andrew; and the preacher passing by was Jesus.

"Follow Me," He said, "and I will make you fishers of men."

And get this -- "they dropped their nets immediately and followed Him."

Something is going on here which does not appear to the naked eye. Two guys quietly going about their regular work, day after day, net by net, catching fish after fish -- over and over and over again. They were no doubt considered successful by their competitors; their business was doing well. They've got it made; not a care in the world.

At least that's the surface reading. But Jesus read their hearts. He looked past the obvious and saw the actual. There was a longing in their labor for something more, something better, something meaningful. And Jesus tapped into that desire and opened the door to their future; and that's why they responded so immediately to His invitation.

Might He be doing the same for you today? We were made for something more than regular work. Our lives are not meant to be relegated to the usual, the ordinary, and the average. This is why these things disturb us so when they seem to become the predicable course for our lives -- our spirit stirs for higher things.

And it is just there, in the midst of regular work, you can hear Jesus calling you to something truly significant and satisfying, something worth spending your life pursuing. "Follow Me," He says, "and I will transform your labor into a calling -- filled with extraordinary promise and great purpose."
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Numbering Our Days

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"So teach us to number our days, that we may present to Thee a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12, NASB).

I once heard a comedian say, "Life is like a roll of toilet paper -- the closer you get to the end, the faster it goes!"

Perhaps you have noticed how the pace of Life has picked up over the past few years; things seem to be moving faster and faster; Time seems to be turning into a blur. It was just yesterday, wasn't it, that the big Y2K scare had people building bunkers and stocking up with beans and bullets? And here we are now -- already pushing to the close of 2008.

With the upgraded pace of Life comes multiple choices of how we will spend our Time -- and our lives. What will we do with what has been given to us? How will we steward our talents, resources, and opportunities. What will be the end of all our labors?

Shortly before his death, George Bernard Shaw was asked a most curious question by a eager young reporter. “Mr. Shaw,” he began, “you have visited with some of the world’s most famous people. You’ve known royalty, renowned authors, great artists, brilliant teachers, and admired dignitaries from every part of the world. You have conversed with scientists and celebrities alike. If you could live your life over and be anybody you’ve ever known – who would you choose to be?”

Shaw answered with hardly a hesitation, “I would choose to be the man George Bernard Shaw could have been – but never was.”

Shaw died one month later – died as a man bound within the limitations of a life that did not reach its full potential, that did not achieve its highest purpose.

May you so number you days, even in the midst of this blistering pace, so that you have no regrets as your turn the final corner on this thing called Life. May you exit this world and enter the next with a heart of wisdom and a life well-lived.
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A Friend in the Diamond Business

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"No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you." (John 15:15)

A Dutch businessman on a visit to New York entered one of the most renowned diamond merchant stores in the world. He was searching for a rare, one-of-a-kind gem.

The owner of the store had his top employee show the Dutchman the most beautiful and most costly diamond they possessed. He looked it over carefully and listened as the salesman described in great detail where the stone was mined, the precision of the cut, the size of each facet, the tone of light that was refracted under a variety of light settings, the splendor of its color, and the overall uniqueness of the stone.

At length the Dutchman decided that, while it was indeed a very exquisite jewel, it was not what he sought. Just as he was about to leave the store, the owner – now free from being with another customer – stopped the Dutchman. “I couldn’t help over-hearing your conversation with my employee. Would you mind if I showed you the diamond just one more time?”

The Dutchman agreed. The store owner took the diamond and carefully set it upon a plush sheet of black velvet. He then lowered a light toward the diamond and took a moment to describe with such clarity and passion the unrivaled magnificence of this solitary stone.

Suddenly the Dutchman exclaimed, “Why, that’s it! That’s the very jewel I have searched for these past several years! I’ll take it!”

After the Dutchman left the store, the salesman approached the owner and asked, “Why were you able to change his mind – seeing we both said basically the same thing?”

“My friend,” the owner replied graciously, “you are indeed one of the most knowledgeable and best workers I’ve ever had work in my store. The difference, however, is that you know diamonds – but I love them.”

There's an old saying -- "People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." That's the key in this Cause of ours as we seek to make Jesus known to others.

Do we merely come across as experts, full of knowledge, pushing a product so we can close the deal? Or, do we instead show the real affection we have for Christ and His work in our world, and the power of His grace to take anything and make it resplendent? And thereby help others see that THIS is what they've been looking for their whole lives?

Are we somebody's friend in the diamond business?
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Seeing Beyond the Fog

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"Where there is no vision, the people perish." (Proverbs 29:18).

The California coast was shrouded in fog the morning of July 4, 1952. Twenty-one miles to the west, on Catalina Island, a thirty-four year-old woman waded into icy water and began swimming toward California, determined to be the first woman to ever swim the twenty-one mile strait. Her name was Florence Chadwick, and she had already been the first woman to swim the English Channel in both directions.

The water was numbing cold that morning, and the fog was so thick that Chadwick could hardly see the boats in her own support party – there to scare away the sharks, and give her safe passage for this Olympic endeavor. As the hours ticked off, Chadwick swam on.

Fatigue had never been a serious problem, for her training had prepared her well to the task. However, the bone-chilling cold of the water was something they had not expected in July. More than fifteen hours later, numbed with the cold and exhausted physically, she asked to be taken out of the water. She simply could not go on any longer.

Her mother and her trainer, alongside her in a boat, urged Chadwick to go on, for they felt surely they were getting close to shore. Yet all Florence could see was dense fog. After a few more laborious strokes, she was taken out of the water – physically and emotionally spent. As the boat motored toward shore, they were stunned to discover they were in fact less than a hundred yards from success.

Chadwick shook her head in disbelief and said, “If it had not been for the fog, I would have seen the shore. And had I seen the shore – I would have made it.”

For Florence Chadwick, it was not her arms, legs or lungs that failed her, but her eyes. Unable to see her goal, she lost heart and quit. Friends, the same happens to us – for such is the power of vision; or the loss of it.

Our journey with Jesus is filled with great challenge and ofttimes much fatigue, as we stroke through icy cold waters filled with ever-circling sharks. Yet, if we are able to see through the fog of confusion and have clear in our mind’s eye the goal of our journey, then the likelihood of finishing our course is assured.

And, for the record -- two years later, Florence Chadwick returned on a clear summer day and set a world record by accomplishing the feat which the fog had prevented.
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The Directed Path

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"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Jeb Magruder, assistant to President Nixon during the infamous Watergate scandal of the '70s, stood before Judge John Sirica to be sentenced for his part in the crime. “Do you have anything to say,” the Judge asked.

Magruder replied, “I know what I have done, and your Honor knows what I have done. Somewhere between my ambition and my ideals, I lost my ethical compass."

Whether it be a ship on the high seas, a plane jetting through the sky, a hiker in the Rocky Mountains, or a man trying to make his way through life – nothing but disaster can come when we lose our compass.

Edmund Burke, famed British Statesman (1729-1797), said, “When ancient opinions and rules of life are taken away, the loss cannot possibly be estimated. From that moment, we have no compass to govern us, nor can we know distinctly to what port to steer."

No one can anticipate all the situations you will encounter in life, or all the specific answers you will need for your journey ahead. But what we can do is avail ourselves to the guiding principles of life found in the Bible -- principles that will help you set your soul to the course God has charted out for you.

Open your heart to God's Word and He will fill you with understanding of such clarity that you will be able to navigate the course of your life no matter how dark the night, thick the fog, or long the trek – be it filled with calm or strife.

He will guide you along the Directed Path.
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Uncovering Lost Secrets of True Success

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"For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." (Joshua 1:8).

Nordstrom’s, one of the most successful retail companies in the world, hosted the top executives from J.C. Penny’s at a business luncheon held in the Nordstrom corporate offices. Penny’s, a company once at the forefront of commercial success, but whose profit margin had now been in steady decline for years, was in desperate need of some sound business advice.

During the lunch one of the execs from J.C. Penny asked his Nordstrom counterpart, “What is the secret of your company’s success?” It was an awkward moment, to say the least; for it is not always prudent to share company secrets with your potential competitors.

Nevertheless, after a slight pause and without saying a word, the Nordstrom executive got up from the table and walked out of the room. Moments later he returned with a large, old book and placed it on the table in front of his counterpart.

“This is the secret of our success,” he said. The Penney’s executive was dumbfounded when he saw that the book before him was a 100-year-old copy of the Franchise Manual for J.C. Penny’s!

Nordstrom was simply doing well what Penny’s had once done – but somewhere along the way had stopped doing. Nordstrom had found and followed the values and guidelines that Penny’s had lost.

When Joshua was divinely chosen to succeed Moses in leading the children of Israel into their Promised Land, God charged him with a single responsibility -- "Study this Book of the Law continually. Meditate on it day and night so you may be sure to obey all that is written in it." The charge was then followed by a powerful promise, which holds true even to this very day -- "For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success."

That’s the bottom line every man and woman seeks.

There is an ancient, time-tested and time-proven manual for success in life. It is the Bible, and we can advance our lives in ways that are pleasing to God and prosperous to ourselves by following the teaching of this Book -- just as others have done who have gone before us.

Why not give it a shot and see what happens?
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Crowding Out the Things that Matter

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"What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?" (Matthew 26:40).

A few years ago National Geographic magazine did a report on Yosemite National Park, and featured a story about Carl Sharsmith, an 81 year old guide at the historic site. Carl was in his tent after a long afternoon with tourists. His nose was flaked white and red with sunburn; his eyes were watery, partly from age but also from hearing again an old question after a half century of summers in California's Yosemite National Park.

"I've only got an hour to spend at Yosemite," a lady tourist declared, "What should I do? Where should I go?"

Carl sighed. “Ah, lady, only an hour?" he asked; and then softly added, “I suppose that if I had only an hour to spend at Yosemite, I'd just walk over there by the river and sit down and cry."

The same could be said for those who have such little time to give to reading and reflecting upon the Word of God. Oh, what treasures we forfeit; what loss we incur – simply because we imagine ourselves too busy to take the time.

But, out of curiosity, just how much time do you think it would take to read from Genesis to Revelation? Well, if you would read the Bible out loud slow enough to be heard and understood, the full reading time would be seventy one hours. If you break that down into minutes and divide it into 365 days, you could easily read the entire Bible in one year by taking only twelve minutes each day.

The treasures you will find are of inestimable value. Here's but one fine example -- a prayer taken from the Psalms:

“Train me in your ways of wise living. I'll transfer to my lips all the counsel that comes from your mouth; I delight far more in what you tell me about living than in gathering a pile of riches. I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you, I attentively watch how you've done it. I relish everything you've told me of life, I won't forget a word of it. Be generous with me and I'll live a full life; not for a minute will I take my eyes off your road. Open my eyes so I can see what you show me of your miracle-wonders. I'm a stranger in these parts; give me clear directions.” (see Psalms 119:12-19, The Message).
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Friendship for a Lifetime

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"The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray." (Proverbs 12:26).

The friends we choose shape our lives in ways that determine the quality of life we end up having -- or not. Solomon said, "Stop being gullible. Leave the company of foolish people, and live. Follow the way of knowledge; walk in the way of insight and understanding." (Proverbs 9:6, pastor's paraphrase).

Paul echoes this in the New Testament. "Don't fool yourselves,” he writes, “Bad friends will destroy you. If you hang around and associate with evil people, your good character will become corrupted and your good morals depraved. Don't let anyone deceive you about this. Associating with bad people will ruin decent people. Wicked friends lead to evil ends" (1Corinthians 15:33, pastor's paraphrase).

There is a clear connection between the quality of life we live, and the type of friends we choose. We have all heard the old idiom that goes, “Birds of a feather flock together.” Another way of putting this is eagles fly with eagles, and turkeys stay with turkeys.

While the animal kingdom may be set by its fur and feathers, man is afforded a higher option. In other words, you can choose the sort of people you want to associate with; the kind of people you want to be around. But realize this – those you spend your time with will shape your thoughts, your character, and your future. Choose wisely.

“Treasure above all else in the world those who love you and wish you well.” (Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn)
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Five Lessons for Dreamers (Part 5)

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"Now Joseph had a dream." (Genesis 37:5)

Looking back upon the story of Joseph the dreamer, and seeing how God exalted him in the land of Egypt and blessed him with favor and great success -- a pattern emerges, providing us today with guidelines we may follow into our own place of blessing and honor.

Here are five lessons for Dreamers from the life of Joseph:

Lesson #5 -- See everything in life from God’s perspective (see Genesis 45:7, and 50:20). After all the years had passed between when the dreams were first given to a young boy, and when a grown man now stood in the midst of the dreams coming true -- one thing towers above all others: Joseph had learned to see things from God's perspective.

On two occasions he reassured his brothers of this fact. First he said, "God sent me on ahead of you to keep your families alive and to save you in this wonderful way." (Gen 45:7). What a remarkable view he possessed of the dreadful night when his brothers had beaten him, thrown him in a pit, and then sold him as a slave to an Egyptian caravan. "God sent me on ahead of you...." -- that's how he saw it.

And then once more, bringing even greater clarity to his words, Joseph said it best when he spoke thus: "As for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive." (Gen 50:20).

Yes, his brothers had done a very evil thing -- but Joseph saw how God used it to work things out in so extraordinary a manner as to bring about the salvation of two Nations: Egypt, and Israel.

Learn to see everything in life from God's perspective, my wistful friend, and your dreams will take on epic value.

Have a good night.
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Five Lessons for Dreamers (Part 4)

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"Now Joseph had a dream." (Genesis 37:5)

Looking back upon the story of Joseph the dreamer, and seeing how God exalted him in the land of Egypt and blessed him with favor and great success -- a pattern emerges, providing us today with guidelines we may follow into our own place of blessing and honor.

Here are five lessons for Dreamers from the life of Joseph:

Lesson #4 -- Walk in humility before God and man (Gen.41:14-57). Considering all that Joseph had been though, and noting carefully the extreme unfairness of it all -- one could hardly blame him for being a bitter and vindictive man. But that's not what we find. We find him to be humble and gracious.

Listen to his own words when he is brought before the Mighty Pharaoh, whose dreams have left him bewildered. "Your Majesty," Joseph answered, "I can't do it myself, but God can give a good meaning to your dreams." (Gen 41:16).

I doubt many of the obnoxious Bible-thumpers of today would fare so well in Pharaoh's presence. They might be more apt to wag their finger in his face, demanding that he repent.....and start tithing.

Joseph, like Jesus (whom he foreshadowed) left us an example of the more excellent way. He walked in humility before God and man, giving honor to whom honor was due; and always pointing others to the one, true source for all our needs -- the Lord Himself.

O Dreamer -- go thou and do likewise!
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Five Lessons for Dreamers (Part 3)

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"Now Joseph had a dream." (Genesis 37:5)

Looking back upon the story of Joseph the dreamer, and seeing how God exalted him in the land of Egypt and blessed him with favor and great success -- a pattern emerges, providing us today with guidelines we may follow into our own place of blessing and honor.

Here are five lessons for Dreamers from the life of Joseph:

Lesson #3 -- Stand with integrity in trials and temptations (Genesis 39:9). Sooner or later SEX is going to be an issue. It always is -- because the devil has won so many, many hard fought battles with this one thing. Yeah, money and power are tied in second place -- but SEX is his weapon of choice.

Dreamers must stand guard against any attempt by the devil to seduce you into the snare of money, the snare of power, and the snare of sex. For Money will corrupt your motives, and you'll soon be nothing more than a soothsayer -- prophesying for the highest purse.

Power will swell your head and diminish your capacity for dreaming what is true. Vanity will always beget vain imaginations -- and thereby flush the truth out as trash. And Sex will possess your powers of reason as it weakens your will and your knees -- rendering you apathetic and indifferent to the things of God.

The third lesson we learn from Joseph is that we must stand with integrity in the face of trials and temptations.
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Five Lessons for Dreamers (Part 2)

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"Now Joseph had a dream." (Genesis 37:5)

Looking back upon the story of Joseph the dreamer, and seeing how God exalted him in the land of Egypt and blessed him with favor and great success -- a pattern emerges, providing us today with guidelines we may follow into our own place of blessing and honor.

Here are five lessons for Dreamers from the life of Joseph:

Lesson #2 -- Make the best of bad situations (see Genesis 39:4,21). There's an old saying that goes, "You can't keep a good man down." This is especially true of a man or woman whose heart has been captured by a dream from God.

Once God has shown you what He is going to do in your life -- nothing that happens can ever derail you from maintaining a single focus upon His unfailing faithfulness. As a result, you become an eternal optimist. Everything works together for good, for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.

Even when things seem not only contrary -- but awful bad -- a dreamer will make the best of the bad situation. Joseph did so first in Potiphar's house, and then again when he was falsely accused and sent to prison.

In both situations he prevailed, for he learned how to overcome what he was undergoing. The dream had him, and would not let go. In the same manner God will pull you through to the other side, if the dream in your heart was given to you by Him.

The best way to know for sure your dream is from God is seen in the second lesson we learn from Joseph -- can you make the best out of any bad situation? Then God's hand is on you, and your headed to a place called Dreams Come True.
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Five Lessons for Dreamers (Part 1)

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"Now Joseph had a dream." (Genesis 37:5)

Looking back upon the story of Joseph the dreamer, and seeing how God exalted him in the land of Egypt and blessed him with favor and great success -- a pattern emerges, providing us today with guidelines we may follow into our own place of blessing and honor.

Here are five lessons for Dreamers from the life of Joseph:

Lesson #1 -- Receive God’s promise with childlike faith (see Genesis 37:5-10). Though Joseph showed immaturity in how he told his brothers about his dreams, he nevertheless demonstrated a most commendable childlikeness is how he received the dreams from the Lord. He did not questions then, nor debate them. He took them as true, and believed them without doubt.

Many of our difficulties come when we complicate the things of God with our own thoughts, ideas, opinions and views.

Or we dismiss the great things which God has in store for us by listening to the voices that accuse of us of being vain and ambitious. Though God would make us great, we belittle ourselves when we side with that which is not true.

The first lesson for all dreamers is that you must receive God's promise with childlike faith. So, go to bed; sleep well; dream large -- and wake up in the morning as a kid again.
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Tested By the Word of the Lord

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"He sent a man before them — Joseph— who was sold as a slave. They hurt his feet with fetters; he was laid in irons. Until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the LORD tested him." (Psalm 105:17-19)

Joseph waited years before his dreams came true. The waiting was not in vain. God used the time to refine Joseph as gold in a furnace. Joseph’s dreams were from God, but his childish pride was not. The harsh years were not for the sake of proving the dreams true, but for proving Joseph to be true.

The Lord’s refining process does the same in our lives today. Many receive dreams and visions from God, but conduct themselves with immaturity. Like Joseph, they must go through seasons of refinement.

Joseph held to the vision God gave him for his life. It kept him through everything he experienced. He was restrained from sin, redeemed from sorrow and restored to honor by holding on to the dreams from God.

It may be, my fellow traveler, that you are undergoing a test from the Lord, which is applied in love to insure that when your dream comes true -- you will be true as well.
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Kill the Dreamer!

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Then they said to one another, "Look, this dreamer is coming! Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, ‘Some wild beast has devoured him.’ We shall see what will become of his dreams!” (Genesis 37:19,20).

The devil is forever trying to put an end to the dreams that come from God. And he will use any means available to succeed in his assaults against dreamers. Family, friends, and foes alike may be unwittingly employed by the Dark Prince to keep the light of a godly dream from exposing his deceptions.

What better way to descredit a dream than by destroying the dreamer?

Thus, Joseph’s brothers become co-conspirators in a diabolic plot to thwart the purposes of God in Joseph’s life. Little did they know that they were playing right into the very hand of the Lord Himself. For the decisions made in that desperate moment by these deceitful brothers set in motion a chain of events which ultimately brought these very men to bow in the presence of Joseph -- just as he had dreamed!

Don't give up on your dreams, my friend, even if it looks like all is lost -- for God will bring them to pass just as He promised.

Though it may take longer than you expected, and lead you through things you never anticipated -- let the dream do its work, and it will bring you to the place where you see with your eyes what your dared to believe in your heart.
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The Man Who was Had by a Dream

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"Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more." (Genesis 37:5).

Some people get really upset when someone else tells them about a dream they have had. Not normal people, mind you -- only religious people. And the reason they get upset is that they already hold something against the dreamer. Joseph's brothers illustrate this.

They were jealous of Joseph, because he was so favored by their father; and their jealousy moved them to do shameful things against him. Nevertheless, Joseph held true to what he believed. And why? Because he "had a dream."

Actually, when we consider the true meaning of those words, we discover that it was really the other way around. The word had means “to bind firmly.” In other words, Joseph became firmly bound up in the dream that God had given him. Dreams that are from God are spiritual experiences that root deep in your heart; never to be forgotten.

Joseph had a dream. Perhaps we could more accurately say that the dream had Joseph!

And it was that dream which carried him through all that happened to him over the years. For, like Moses before him, he “endured as seeing Him who is invisible.”

What dream from God HAS you?
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LOVE is a Person

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"God is Love." (1 John 4:8).

For the past few days we have examined briefly the three great Virtues -- Faith, Hope, and Love. The Scripture tells us that the greatest of these three is Love. The reason is clear -- Faith is a Power, Hope is a Promise, and Love is a Person.

That Person is the Lord Himself.

Jesus said, "He that has seen Me, has seen the Father." Christ came to reveal to each one of us the God that nobody knew. There are the fiery gods of the pagans, demanding the sacrifice of children to appease their demands. There are the brooding gods of the Hindus, leaving man in a never-ending-circle of searching -- only to worship a cow.

There are the capricious gods of the Greeks, who leave man in doubt and dismay at the unpredictable twists and turns of life. And, of course, there is the angry god of Muslims, who evidently requires that his devotees slay all infidels to prove their faith, and then kill themselve in an unholy holy act to insure themselves 70 virgins in heaven.

By the way, did anyone ask the virgins how they feel about this? Is that heaven to them?

And even the Christian Faith is filled with mixed images and vain imaginations about the One True God -- leaving most of us motivated out of guilt, shame, or fear.

But God is Love -- and we need only look into the face of Jesus and all our confusion about God is dispelled. So, now abides faith, hope and love -- and the greatest of these is Love. For faith is a power, hope is a promise, but Love is a Person.

And once this Person befriends you and walks with you day by day -- your faith will soar to heights unknown, and your hope will be securely fixed like an anchor in heaven as you sail the high seas of this spinning world.
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Hope is a Promise

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"And this hope is what saves us. But if we already have what we hope for, there is no need to keep on hoping." (Romans 8:24).

Faith is a power, and Hope is a promise. For Hope is always about that which is yet to come; never about what we currently possess.

Faith reaches into the future and brings into the present a borrowed power that enables us to live today in the strength of tomorrow; to posses this earth with heaven in mind; to live in the presence of the "not yet."

But Hope differs in this regard: it knows what is promised, even though it cannot see it, and though it will never lay hold of it until the day it actually arrives -- Hope holds firm without wavering. Faith is for this world; Hope is for the next. There will be no need for Faith in Heaven once we are there, so we should spend all that we have while we are here.

But our Hope will pay off huge on That Day when we cross the threshold of Time into Eternity and see what our hearts have only imagined. Hope is a promise that holds our hearts forward to a better day, that lifts us above the present darkness of a bad stretch and keeps us buoyant in the midst of turbulence and trouble.

But sometimes Hope flags in the face of delays; and Hope deferred can make the heart sick. Thus weakened with soul-sickness, our hearts may lose their grip on what is promised; our Hope may fade and our passion to keep a forward view can diminish in the dusk of uncertain turns.

That's when Love steps in to lift Hope back on its feet -- for Love never fails.

Love is a Person. We'll meet this Person tomorrow.
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Faith is a Power

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Jesus said, "If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible." (Matthew 17:20, NLT)

Faith is a power. It is the nitroglycerine of the Kingdom. Just a single drop, no bigger than a mustard seed, can move mountains. And why is this? Because faith moves God -- it is one thing He delights most to see active in our hearts. And when He finds faith at work, He is moved to do His great and extraordinary work in us and through us.

Yes, Faith is a power. It can move mountains, stop the mouths of lions, conquer kingdoms and raise the dead. But, sometimes its power wanes, in the same manner that the tides of the sea ebb and flow. Some days our faith is strong and unflappable; but on other days it needs strengthening.

Jesus prayed for Simon Peter that his faith fail not. Sometimes Faith fails; its steps become uncertain and halting. For this reason, Faith must always have a renewable source of energy; a never failing supply of invigorating strength to bolster it when it is close to tapping out.
That one unfailing source is LOVE.

Not even Hell itself in all its unleashed hatred can rock a man or woman who is rooted and grounded in the unfailing Love of God. Though Faith may fail, and Hope falter under the relentless blows of continued misfortune -- Love never fails.

Now abides Faith, Hope, and Love -- and the greatest of these is Love. Tomorrow we'll take a look at Hope.
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The Three Great Virtues

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"Now abideth faith, hope and love; and the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13).

Virtue, by definition, is moral strength and beauty. It is not a passive quality admired by onlookers like a work of art in a museum. Rather, it is a dynamic grace displayed in a thousand noble acts on the highways and byways of daily life. Even the most ordinary among us can be extraordinarily virtuous.

Of all the great virtues that can be listed, and there are indeed many -- the three greatest are Faith, Hope, and Love. It is to these three things that all mankind aspires, for Life is at its best and brightest when these three combine together and lift us above and beyond the lures and limits of lesser things.

Without Faith, our lives began to diminish with the increase of gnawing doubts and mounting suspicions. We lose the innocence and sense of wonder that makes dreams come true. One must believe in order to be living. "My heart has no desire to stay where doubts arise and fears dismay; while some may dwell where these abound, my prayer, my aim is higher ground!"

Without Hope, our lives are ravaged life becomes a foreboding haze of disappointments and disillusionments, penetrating our souls like a foul vapor of toxic poisoning -- making us sick, lethargic, indifferent, and cynical.

And without Love, life is reduced to solitary confinement in a prison called Fear; where isolation robs us of vitality and vigor; and where bitterness wrecks havoc with all of our relationships.

Pity the man or woman whose heart is closed to Faith, Hope and Love. Now abideth faith, hope and love; and the greatest of these is love -- and I'll tell you why. Faith is a power, and Hope is a promise. But Love is a Person.

I'll pick up here tomorrow and explain this in more detail.
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VIRTUE -- A Cluster of Many Noble Things

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"His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue." (2 Peter 1:3).

VIRTUE, in a word, is the character of Jesus Christ. It is the power of moral excellence which produces character so great, and conduct so becoming -- that the world is never the same for having seen and experienced it.

We were called to Jesus by His glory and virtue -- not just to behold and adore it; but to share in it. To become ourselves an extension of it in our sphere of influence. "The works that I do, you shall do," Jesus said, "and even greater works than these shall you do, for I go to My Father."

Imagine the impact upon this planet when the one Jesus of Nazareth becomes increasingly multiplied over and over in the millions of His followers all around the world. Why, a wave of virtue would sweep this globe in such measure that the glory of the Lord would cover the earth as waters cover the sea.

VIRTUE in not one thing; it is a cluster of many noble things. It is humility in victory; no gloating or taunting in the defeat of an opponent. It is silence in suffering; no whimpering or whining to others over the unfairness of our trials. It is generosity in wealth; no hoarding of great riches in excess of reason, while others suffer great excess of want.

Virtue is kindness in power; no cruelty and indifference to those who look to you for leadership. It is decisiveness in crisis; no waffling, or shifting, nor shirking of responsibilities. It is courage in battle; no cowering in fear while others take the hit.

Virtue is grace in greatness. May you in all things at all times be known as a virtuous person.

Jesus said, "Be careful what you are hearing. The measure of thought and study you give to the truth you hear will be the measure of virtue and knowledge that comes back to you--and more besides will be given to you who hear." (Mark 4:24, Amplified Bible)
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Whatever Happened to Virtue?

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"For the righteous LORD loves justice. The virtuous will see His face." (Psalm 11:7, Living Bible)

Whatever happened to VIRTUE?

It's a word we don't often hear much anymore. It didn't use to be that way. A glance down the Hallway of History is illuminated with many great quotes regarding virtuous living. Here are but a few choice examples:

"Even in decline, a virtuous man increases the beauty of his behavior. A burning stick, though turned to the ground, yet has its flame drawn upwards." (Saskya Pandita, Tibetan Monk, 1120).

"When a virtuous man is raised, it brings gladness to his friends, grief to his enemies, and glory to his posterity.” So said William Johnson, English Dramatist, 1572.

"No people can be great who have ceased to be virtuous." (Samuel Johnson, English poet 1750). Benjamin Franklin picked up on this and said, "There never was a truly great man that was not at the same time truly virtuous." (1780).

During the crisis of the Civil War, Frederick Douglas said, "The life of a nation is secure only while the nation is honest, truthful, and virtuous." (1865).

Somewhere along the way we shifted gears and covertly turned a cold shoulder to such notions. And now we are a Nation more given to Vice than to Virtue. How did this happen? Somewhere back there several years ago, a group of so-and-so's decided to do a social experiment, which was founded upon the faulty notion that Life and all things in it is better without God.

Business is better without God. Politics are better without God. Education is better without God. Sex is better without God. Money is better without God. Society is better without God. The Arts are better without God.

Such thinking is nonsense -- and we now see the full fruit of these seeds in the dismal indifference which characterizes a society of non-virtuous people. Selfishness trumps self-sacrifice; personal interests take priority over the needs and concerns of others; petty arguments have replaced great debates -- and this little piggie said, "ME, ME, ME," all the way home.

But God is moving among us even still. He is summoning a people who hunger for that which is virtuous. Maybe you are one of them, and your heart is being drawn to the higher and nobler things of God. If that be so, then let me leave you today with Paul's timeless counsel, and we'll talk more about this tomorrow.

"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).
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A Prayer from Billy Graham

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"You shall rise before the gray headed and honor the presence of an old man, and fear your God: I am the LORD." (Leviticus 19:32).

If ever there was a gray headed, old man deserving our our highest honor and greatest esteem -- it is Billy Graham. He is truly beloved througout the entire world, and rightly so. Thus, Paul Harvey did us all a huge favor when he aired the following prayer by Billy Graham during one of his broadcasts. The words are brief, yet deep and meaningful -- which is usually what happens when grey-haired men and women of faith talk to God.

"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.

We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem.

We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.

Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today ; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Amen!"

Maybe you could help to spread this prayer by forwarding it to your friends. And maybe we all could pray it together. And maybe, just maybe -- God will hear our cry from heaven, forgive our sins, and heal our Land.

Maybe.
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And the Whole East Coast

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"From the rising of the sun to its going down The LORD's name is to be praised." (Psalm 113:3).

A friend of mine, who is hearing impaired, was attending a church service as a new follower of Jesus. Much of the program was foreign to him, but he was giving it his best effort to keep up with the songs, the sermon, and the smells. In fact, he was doing great until the preacher closed the service with a benediction prayer, which he ended by saying, "In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost."

What my friend heard was, "In the name of the Father, the Son, and the whole East Coast."

"What does the East Coast have to do with all of this?" he asked.

"Huh?" I replied, genuinely perplexed.

"The preacher just prayed in the name of "the whole East Coast," he explained to me, and then asked, "so, what does that mean?"

"No, no," I replied, "he said, 'the Holy Ghost."

Needless to say we both got a huge chuckle out of the moment.

But then again, after thinking about it, I realized that the whole East Coast does in fact play a crucial part in what the Lord wants to do. The Bible says, "From the rising of the Sun to its going down, the Lord's name is to be praised." That means it all starts on the whole East Coast.

So here's a thought.....if we could somehow get the whole East Coast to start praising the Lord, then maybe, just maybe, the rest of the Nation would join in and do the same.

What do you think?
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Healthy Things Grow

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"As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby." (1 Peter 2:2).

Here is a formula I developed some time ago, which many have found to be very helpful in assessing just where they are in this thing called spiritual growth. Perhaps you will find it useful in your life as well. It consists of seven simple facts, each one leading to the other in a natural and inevitable sequence of healthy growth.

Fact #1 -- healthy things grow. This is a fact. If you want to be healthy, you are going to grow. This is true of many things; whether it be people, plants, businesses, marriages, churches, investments, or whatever ~ if it is healthy, it will grow.

Fact #2 -- growing things change. This is how we know they are growing. They are different than when we last saw them.

Fact #3 -- changing things challenge us. Mark Twain said, “The only person that likes change is a wet baby.” Basically, we like things to stay the way we like them. We are creatures of habit and comfort, and so enjoy things to be left alone when we have them just the way we think they ought to be. When change happens, it presents us with challenge. The greater the change; the greater the challenge.

Fact #4 -- challenging things force us to trust God. I mean, what else are you going to do ~ quit? Challenge requires that we trust God, especially when we are faced with something that seems to be more than we can handle. God knows your limits. He knows exactly where to apply the pressure to cause you to turn to Him in faith. What might be a test for someone else may be a walk in the park for you ~ and vice versa. It is not a test until it forces you to turn to God in simple trust.

Fact #5 -- trust leads to obedience. The old Gospel song writer said it best, “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.” If we truly trust the Lord, He will reveal His will to us; show us what to do. Thus, trust leads to obedience. The only question now is, will we obey?

Fact #6 -- obedience makes us healthy. Jesus said, “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me. For My yoke is easy, and My burden light; and you shall find rest for your souls.” When we obey the Lord, His joy floods our souls and His peace fills our lives. There is no rest for the wicked; but those who do God’s will find their lives filled with blessing.

And Fact #7 -- healthy things grow! Now we are back to where we started. That’s how it works; it is the cycle of spiritual growth every child of God experiences. Even now you are somewhere in this cycle ~ that is, if you want to be healthy. Review these seven phases and consider where you are in the process. You’ll end up in a good place, praising God for bringing you through it all.
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Right Was the Pathway Leading to This

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"So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel." (Luke 1:80).

It was said of John the Baptist that “the child grew and became strong in spirit” …while he was in the desert. And notice that his growth was primarily spiritual. No growth is complete that leaves out spiritual development.

I often heard Bill McCartney tell his football team, “The spiritual is to the physical as four is to one.” By this he meant that a man with his spirit set right by God had far more going for him that a man with nothing but muscles. Take a guy who is physically fit and infuse him with the Holy Spirit ~ you have a formidable package! That’s what John the Baptist was like.

Notice the scripture goes on to say of John, “He was in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel.” Hmmm. I wonder if the Lord sometimes puts us in the desert in order to have us grow and become strong in spirit. It certainly would seem so, looking at John as an example.

A gem is not polished without rubbing, nor are godly men and women made without trials. Think about it. Haven’t the greatest strides in your spiritual journey always come during times of significant difficulty and hardship? “Many men and women owe the grandeur of their lives to their tremendous difficulties.” (C.H. Spurgeon).

John was in the desert until his showing forth unto Israel. Might not the same be true of you? This pattern certainly holds true for many of God’s champions. Paul was himself in the desert for three years, and then sidelined in Antioch for fourteen years before the Lord brought him forth into his apostolic ministry.

Joseph endured the hostilities of false accusation and unjust imprisonment long before God exalted him in all of Egypt. Moses tended sheep for forty years before leading the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage and into history. David was faithful in the unseen and uncelebrated duties of ordinary labor, and there secretly slew a lion and a bear, long before God brought him out publicly to slay Goliath, and lead a Nation.

It seems clear enough that God uses the dry and desperate times in the desert to effect a spiritual maturity in our lives. Perhaps this short poem says it best for all of us,

Light after darkness, gain after loss;
Strength after weakness, crown after cross;
Sweet after bitter, hope after fears;
Home after wandering, praise after tears;

Sheaves after sowing, sun after rain;
Sight after mystery, peace after pain;
Joy after sorrow, calm after blast;
Rest after weariness, sweet rest at last;

Near after distant, gleam after gloom;
Love after loneliness, life after tomb;
After long agony, rapture of bliss;
Right was the pathway, leading to this.
~ Francis Havergal
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