The Best of Things in the Worst of Times

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“...among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Phil.2:15).

I saw a plaque on a church in England that read, "In the year 1563, when all things sacred in the kingdom were profaned and defiled, this church was built to do the best of things in the worst of times."

I was moved by the faith, vision, and courage of those ancient builders; and couldn't help but admire their didication to do what was right when everything was going so wrong.

The prophet Daniel wrote, “the people who know their God shall prove themselves strong and shall stand firm and do great exploits; they shall prevail valiantly” (Dan.11:32). The backdrop for this splendid display of moral courage and social action was a time when deceit and flattery from political leaders had seduced the mindless masses into settling for a meaningless existence.

That’s when the people of God shine the brightest – “blameless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Phil.2:15).

Is it possible, my friend, that God is summoning you out of the comfort of a convenient life into a contest for truth and justice; an epic battle against the encroaching powers of darkness, which are stalking our homes, our schools, our courts, our market places, and our churches? Is it possible that you’re the one who can stop the plague?

All it takes is the right man at the right time.

Arthur Hugh Clough said it best in his little poem -- “Say not, ‘The struggle naught availeth; the labor and the toils are vain. The enemy shrinks not, nor faileth. As things have been, so they remain.’ For if hopes be dupes, then fears be liars. It may be even now, your comrades in yon smoke concealed, chase the fliers – and, but for you, possess the field.”

Your part matters far more than perhaps you may even realize; for you could be the voice that turns the battle, the life that makes the difference, that light that shines brightest in the darkest hour.

You can be a person who does the best of things in the worst of times.
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Light Up the Darkness

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“Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

Our faithfulness in dark moments of history may be the only light that some will ever see.

Peter exhorted us to “sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). Do you know the Lord? If so, then you can make Him known to others!

Daniel said, “the people who do know their God shall be strong and do exploits” (Daniel 11:32). Dr. King said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

Men and women who take action in the face of passivity and perversion fill God’s heart with pleasure, and transform their world with power -- the power of love. Will you be one of these gallant souls?

Paul the apostle was described by James, the Lord’s brother, as a man who “hazarded his life for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 15:26). What an epitaph! Could the same be said of you? Wouldn’t you want it to be? The word hazarded literally means “to hand over.” Have you handed your life over to the Lord Jesus Christ?

Paul summed up his own life story in a single sentence when he stood before a king who held in his hand the power of life and death. “O Agrippa,” he affirmed, “I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision!” (Acts 26:19). Hearing God's voice, and doing what He says -- that is what marks every true man and woman of God.

Light up the Darkness -- it is the desperate need of this hour.
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The Place Where You Live

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A Prayer of Moses the man of God. "Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations." (Psalm 90:1).

Here is a remarkable sentence indeed. It was written by a solitary Moses back in the Beginning, long before there were any real generations to speak about. But now it stands in these last days as the confession of millions; whose personal and collective histories span thousands of generations.

Moses was a Prophet, and in that gifting he penned our confession long before we were even born.

Think about your own storied journey. As you look back over the years and reflect upon all the places you have been, all the things you have seen and done, along with all that you have experienced -- good and bad alike -- don't you find your heart rallying to this singular line? "Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations."

In every season of life, through all the changes that occur over the years from one experience to the next, one decade to the next; one generation to the next -- "Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations."

In each circumstance throughout a single day -- "Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations."

He is our Temple, the center of our worship. He is our Home, the seat of our security. He is our Lair, the site of our rest and repose.

He is our School, the stock of our wisdom and knowledge. He is our Retreat, the source of our rejuvination. He is our Market Place, the success of our labors.

He is our High Court, the supply of our peace and righteousness. He is our Heaven, the satisfaction of our eternal longings.

Rightly did the Psalmist say, "Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever" (Psa 73:25-26).

This is the Place where your live -- and I pray you live well!
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You Can Trust the Lord to Get the Job Done

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"But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you" (1 Peter 5:10).

Think about it. Any great artist who wants to make a sculpture that dazzles the multitudes with its beauty, must commit himself to the arduous task of hammering, chiseling, shaping, sanding, polishing and perfecting the work until it is ready to be revealed.

If an artist will go to such lengths over a single sculpture, what makes you think God is any less committed to you?

The day of your revealing is set and secured by God's relentless resolve. However, between now and that day, the hammer has to drop, and the chisel has to cut.

There are many things in and about you that need to be removed; some go easy, falling away like autumn leaves in the wind. But some are so embedded into the stone of your soul that it requires many masterful blows to dislodge them. And God is not stopping until they are gone.

So, though you are called to glory, and will indeed make it there, you must nevertheless "suffer a while." But never lose sight of this truth: God is completing us; putting on the finishing touches before our grand debut in the high courts of heaven.

One translation says, "God, who shows you his kindness and who has called you through Christ Jesus to his eternal glory, will restore you, strengthen you, make you strong, and support you as you suffer for a little while" (1Pe 5:10, God's Word). This is a wonderful and encouraging thought, and it is true to the ways of the Lord. He blesses us with His presence AS we are going through great difficulty.

Peter would know this better than anyone. On that dark night when he betrayed the Lord, his soul was plunged into a deep pit of despair. And when Jesus died, all hope ended for Simon Peter. But then, on the Third Day, Jesus rose from the dead and Peter was born anew to a living hope!

That's why we can believe it when he tells us that the Lord "will restore you, strengthen you, make you strong, and support you as you suffer for a little while." It is what Jesus did for Peter, and He will do the same for you.

You can trust the Lord to get the job done -- even though you suffer for a little while.
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"This is More Than I Can Handle!"

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"Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world." (1 Peter 5:9).

There are three critical mistakes we typically make when all hell breaks loose in our lives. First, we doubt and blame God. Second, we magnify the problem, convincing ourselves that it is more than we can handle. And third, we imagine that we are all alone as we face it.

Put them altogether and our complaints sounds something like this, "God has let me down! He's putting me through something that is more than I can handle! Nobody knows what I'm going through, and nobody cares! I'm all alone!"

OK, bumpkin, Let's set the record straight.

FIRST, God has not dropped the ball on you at all! The Bible says, "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13). Did you catch that one phrase? "God is faithful." There is no way, no how, God will let no one (including the sneaky devil) have access into your life beyond the measure of His grace.

SECOND, this thing you are facing is not more than you can handle at all. Rather, it is EXACTLY what you can handle! Have you ever seen a weight limit sign posted at a bridge crossing? It's there to notify truckers of the freight load, which the bridge is built to handle. The same is true of you! God knows what you are made of, and just how much weight your life can bear. And He will not allow the devil to roll more over you than you can bear.

I saw a cartoon that said, "Lord, I know You said You would never let me be tempted or tested above what I was able to bear -- but, some times I wish You didn't have so much confidence in me!"

THIRD, You are not alone. Everybody is going through it with you. No one is exempt, all are in some way being challenged and stretched to their limits; just like you. What you are experiencing is "common to man." In other words -- we all know what you're going through, because we are going through it ourselves! The Apostle Peter put it like this, "the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world."

So instead of going down the wrong path, try this approach instead.

"Lord, You are faithful and true; You will never allow me to face a trial or temptation which is greater than what I can handle. You will always provide me the way to bear up until it passes. This is Your commitment to me, and to all others who are experiencing their own challenges. I am not alone, nor are my struggles mine alone. Other are facing the same fears, worries, anxieties, and dreads -- show them what You have shown me, so that their hearts may be filled with faith and comforted with hope."
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The Sneaky Devil

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"Be on your guard and stay awake. Your enemy, the devil, is like a roaring lion, sneaking around to find someone to attack" (1 Peter 5:8, Contemporary English).

Viewed in light of the previous verses, the advice given here is profoundly important. Peter is showing us that if we let fears, worries, anxieties, and feelings of dread pull us in several directions at the same time -- taking our focus away from the Lord who cares for us -- then our lives will be ripped to pieces, leaving us open to the insidious attacks of the devil.

Now, for the record, the devil is NOT a roaring lion; he likes to THINK he is.

There is only One Lion -- the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. And the Devil has been trying to usurp His authority from the beginning. So now he pretends to be a lion, roaring about the land in search of someone to attack.

But he only has access into our lives when we look away from the Lord and began to overthink our fears, worries, anxieties and dreads. In this state of distraction we unwittingly offer the devil our unguarded hearts -- and he ravages us with lies and accusations.

Yet, even then, the Lord still is our Savior. He rebukes the devil and reclaims our fractured lives; healing us, and making us whole once more. And thus we sing the song of the redeemed -- "If the Lord had not been on our side, all our enemies would have swallowed us alive!" (see Psalm 124)

The best thing is for us to take Peter's counsel and thereby preempt anything the devil is scheming to do. By casting our cares upon the Lord, we are free from fear, worry, anxiety and dread. In that freedom we stand vigilant, guarded, prepared, and victorious.

"Be sober, sensible and on your guard, clear-headed and well balanced; fully awake and keeping watch; vigilant and guarded at all times. You have a great adversary, the sneaky devil, who prowls about as a roaring lion seeking someone to attack, seize and devour. Keep a cool head; he is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping." (1 Peter 5:8, composed from several translations).
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The Emphasize Exercise

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"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." (1 Peter 5:7).

Yesterday we saw that sometimes you just need to hurl -- to unload upon the Lord the full weight of all that burdens you, and then find rest from your troubles in His strong and loving embrace. You can do this because, as Peter tells us, "He cares for you."

Let's look at the word he uses for "care." It literally means "the distractions created by fear, worry, anxiety and dread; distractions that pull us in several directions at the same time."

Take all these things -- fear, worry, anxiety, and dread -- bundle them together and throw them upon God; and keep throwing them over and over until they finally leave your hands and rest solidly upon His shoulders. Otherwise they will pull you apart; tear you to pieces!

And here is the singular truth that makes it all happen -- "He cares for you!"

Several years ago I discocvered a wonderful technique I call "the emphasize exercise." It works like this: I take a verse of scripture and read it over several times, emphasing only one word in the verse each time I read it; repeating the process until I have emphasized every word in the verse. The insights that open up are truly delightful. Let me take this phrase -- "He cares for you" -- and show you what I mean.

"HE cares for you." -- This is Almighty God we are talking about here; not some junior angel whose been handed your case. No, God Himself, the King of Glory, the Lord of Host, the Alpha and Omega; He who sustains all things by the word of His power; the Omnipotent God -- your Heavenly Father. HE cares for you."

He CARES for you." -- He is affectionate in His regard for your estate. He holds you in His heart, and looks with kind intentions upon your life, and good will toward your soul and well-being. He CARES!"

He cares FOR you." -- He is not passive, but active. He's not thinking about doing it when He gets around to it -- He's on top of it right now! He has already stepped in on your behalf and undertaken the cause of blessing you in bouldless ways. And He is doing it FOR you; so you don't have to try and do it for yourself!"

He cares for YOU!" -- Yeah, that's right -- YOU! Sure, He cares for all the saints and great champions of yore; and for all those who are serving Him mightily in today's world -- the spiritual news-makers and world-shakers, devil-busters, kingdom-builders, and soul-savers. But you're not overlooked in all this. NO! A thousand times NO! "He cares for YOU!"

Now, to put the cheery on the top, go ahead and say it all together -- emphasizing all the words: "HE CARES FOR YOU!!"

You can really drive it home by making it personal, and repeating this process until the burden has lifted: "YOU CARE FOR ME!!!"

(Tomorrow I will show you WHY it is imperative that we do this).
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Sometimes You Just Need to Hurl!

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"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." (1 Peter 5:7).

Yesterday we learned that we are to "humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God." Today, I want to show you the secret of exactly how to do it. Today's verse is filled with decisive action. We are specifically told to do something....something very important. "Cast all your cares upon Him," the Aposte writes.

The word he uses literally means "to be continually casting." This is not a one time thing; no, we are to make it the habit of our daily lives. And the root meaning is beautifuly excessive; it goes beyond the thought of simply becoming an imposition upon another -- it actually has the idea of being a "super-imposition" -- a total freeloader!

Have you ever said to someone, "I don't mean to impose upon you, but could you give me some help?" It's a polite way of humbling yourself in a time of need. And that's all well and good, for sometimes we do need to ask others for assistance, without becoming an imposition upon them.

But the Apostle goes well beyond this social protocol. He instructs us to not merely make ourselves an imposistion upon God -- but to go so far as to become a super-imposition upon Him!

The word literally means "to thow upon another." In this case, the other is God Himself. Peter is saying that we must throw our cares upon God. Indeed, HURL them, so as to get them as far away from ourselves as possible!

This is the secret of humbling ourselves under the mighty hand of God.

The proud hold tightly to the cares of this world, deeming themselves sufficent to handle things on their own. But, we humble ourselves by "casting our cares upon the Lord" -- by hurling the weight of the world onto His strong shoulders, and finding our place of rest in His loving care.

Tomorrow, I will show you a practical way to do this; its what I call the Emphasize Exercise....
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Under the Mighty Hand of God

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"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time" (1Peter 5:6).

I once read that when you see the word therefore you should ask, "What's it there for?" Backing up to the previous verse we read that "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." For this reason, THEREFORE, we are to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God.

It's a no-brainer, really. It comes down to a simple question: Do you want your life to be limited to what only you can do yourself, or do you want the hand of God to lift you up to places and things that you could never otherwise reach? A.W. Tozer said, "God is looking for those through who He can do the impossible. What a pity that we settle for only those things we can do ourselves."

Humility is the God-given self assurance that eliminates the need to prove to others the worth of who you are, and the rightness of what you do.

Grace is the empowering presence of God, enabling you to be who God created you to be and to do what He has called you to do.

The proud will never experience this grace because they are only and always about themselves first and foremost. Any consideration they have of others is only as it somehow serves their own agendas.

But those who humble themselves fair far better in this world -- and in the next. Peter says that "God will exalt them in due time."

The phrase "due time" literally means "the opportune moment." It is best understood by the phrase, "being the right person in the right place at the right time for the right reasons." When God holds you under His mighty hand, you can be sure that He will bring you forth "in due season."

In this day when pride and greed are tearing our world apart, as fools tinker with matters that are way over their heads, my counsel to you as well as to my own soul is found in the Apostle Peter's choice words -- "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time."

Tomorrow I'll show the secret of exactly how to do this.
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God is Looking for Answers (Part 4)

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"Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few" (Ecclesiastes 5:2).

"Now we come to the final few questions," says God. "Stand up and brace yourself. I want straight answers."

1. Are you going to haul me, the Mighty One, into court and press charges?
2. Do you presume to tell me what I'm doing wrong?
3. Are you calling me a sinner so you can be a saint?
4. Do you have an arm like my arm? Can you shout in thunder the way I can?
5. Go ahead, show your stuff. Let's see what you're made of, what you can do. I'll gladly step aside and hand things over to you-- you can surely save yourself with no help from me!

After this overwhelming blast of questions from GOD, one final inquiry is made of Job, "Now what do you have to say for yourself?" Job's response is a model for us all.

"I'm speechless, in awe -- words fail me," Job answered. "I should never have opened my mouth! I've talked too much, way too much. I'm ready to shut up and listen. I'm convinced: You can do anything and everything. Nothing and no one can upset your plans.

You asked, 'Who is this muddying the water, ignorantly confusing the issue, second-guessing my purposes?' I admit it. I was the one. I babbled on about things far beyond me, made small talk about wonders way over my head. You told me, 'Listen, and let me do the talking. Let me ask the questions. You give the answers.'

I admit I once lived by rumors of you; now I have it all firsthand -- from my own eyes and ears! I'm sorry --f orgive me. I'll never do that again, I promise! I'll never again live on crusts of hearsay, or the crumbs of rumor." (Job 42:1-6).

Yes, we all know that there are plenty of times when we just don't understand what God is doing, or why He is NOT doing what we think He surely SHOULD be doing about this or that. But remember -- "God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few."

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God is Looking for Answers (Part 3)

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"Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools." (Romans 1:22).

"Good morning," says God. "Did you sleep well last night? That's great! Now, let's get to the point -- I have a few more questions for you, and I want straight answers."

1. "Who do you think set the wild donkey free, opened the corral gates and let him go? I gave him the whole wilderness to roam in, the rolling plains and wide-open places. He laughs at his city cousins, who are harnessed and harried. He's oblivious to the cries of teamsters. He grazes freely through the hills, nibbling anything that's green.
2. "Will the wild buffalo condescend to serve you, volunteer to spend the night in your barn? Can you imagine hitching your plow to a buffalo and getting him to till your fields? He's hugely strong, yes, but could you trust him, would you dare turn the job over to him? You wouldn't for a minute depend on him, would you, to do what you said when you said it?
3. "The ostrich flaps her wings futilely-- all those beautiful feathers, but useless! She lays her eggs on the hard ground, leaves them there in the dirt, exposed to the weather, Not caring that they might get stepped on and cracked or trampled by some wild animal. She's negligent with her young, as if they weren't even hers. She cares nothing about anything. She wasn't created very smart, that's for sure, wasn't given her share of good sense. But when she runs, oh, how she runs, laughing, leaving horse and rider in the dust.
4. "Are you the one who gave the horse his prowess and adorned him with a shimmering mane? Did you create him to prance proudly and strike terror with his royal snorts? He paws the ground fiercely, eager and spirited, then charges into the fray. He laughs at danger, fearless, doesn't shy away from the sword. The banging and clanging of quiver and lance don't faze him. He quivers with excitement, and at the trumpet blast races off at a gallop. At the sound of the trumpet he neighs mightily, smelling the excitement of battle from a long way off, catching the rolling thunder of the war cries.
5. Was it through your know how that the hawk learned to fly, soaring effortlessly on thermal updrafts? Did you command the eagle's flight, and teach her to build her nest in the heights, Perfectly at home on the high cliff-face, invulnerable on pinnacle and crag? From her perch she searches for prey, spies it at a great distance. Her young gorge themselves on carrion; wherever there's a roadkill, you'll see her circling."

OK, time for another breather. But don't get too comfortable; God is quite not done. One more session to go.....

See you tomorrow.

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God is Looking for Answers (Part 2)

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"Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools." (Romans 1:22).

"OK, Class, welcome back," says God. "No need to dilly-dally around with superficial chit-chat; let's get right to it. I have some more questions for you, and I want straight answers."

1. "Do you know where Light comes from and where Darkness lives so you can take them by the hand and lead them home when they get lost? Why, of course you know that. You've known them all your life, grown up in the same neighborhood with them!
2. "Have you ever traveled to where snow is made, seen the vault where hail is stockpiled, The arsenals of hail and snow that I keep in readiness for times of trouble and battle and war?
3. Can you find your way to where lightning is launched, or to the place from which the wind blows?
4. Who do you suppose carves canyons for the downpours of rain, and charts the route of thunderstorms that bring water to unvisited fields, deserts no one ever lays eyes on, drenching the useless wastelands so they're carpeted with wildflowers and grass? And who do you think is the father of rain and dew, the mother of ice and frost? You don't for a minute imagine these marvels of weather just happen, do you?
5. "Can you catch the eye of the beautiful Pleiades sisters, or distract Orion from his hunt? Can you get Venus to look your way, or get the Great Bear and her cubs to come out and play? Do you know the first thing about the sky's constellations and how they affect things on Earth?
6. Can you teach the lioness to stalk her prey and satisfy the appetite of her cubs as they crouch in their den, waiting hungrily in their cave?
7. And who sets out food for the ravens when their young cry to God, fluttering about because they have no food?

OK, I can see your a bit overloaded. But there are still a lot more questions God is asking. So, I guess we'll give you a brief mental break, and then hammer you a little more tomorrow!

Have a great day!!

PS - if you want a jump on the test, go read Job, chapters 38 through 42.
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God is Looking for Answers (Part 1)

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"Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools." (Romans 1:22).

Politicians, Pundits, Pop Stars and Preachers from Portland to Pensecola are proliferating the airwaves with pontifications galore about this and that -- each upstaging one another in an endless barrage of opinionated arguments that leave most of us scratching our heads in honest bewilderment.

God Himself has tuned in on all of this prattle, and now He has a few questions for the experts. "Why do you confuse the issue?" He asks. "Why do you talk without knowing what you're talking about? I have some questions for you, and I want some straight answers." (Job 38:2,3 The Message).

What then follows in the Bible is a blast of questions from God, offering man the opportunity to prove himself to be Godlike, which of course is preposterous. But still, God being fair, He at least gives man the chance to ascend to the Throne of Heaven, providing he can answer these simple questions.

Are you ready?

Alright, here we go. God wants to know....

1. Where were you when I created the earth? Tell me, since you know so much! Who decided on its size? Certainly you'll know that! Who came up with the blueprints and measurements? How was its foundation poured, and who set the cornerstone, while the morning stars sang in chorus and all the angels shouted praise?
2. And who took charge of the ocean when it gushed forth like a baby from the womb? That was me! I wrapped it in soft clouds, and tucked it in safely at night. Then I made a playpen for it, a strong playpen so it couldn't run loose, and said, 'Stay here, this is your place. Your wild tantrums are confined to this place.'
3. "And have you ever ordered Morning, 'Get up!' and told Dawn, 'Get to work!' So you could seize Earth like a blanket and shake out the wicked like cockroaches? As the sun brings everything to light, brings out all the colors and shapes, the cover of darkness is snatched from the wicked -- they're caught in the very act!
4. "Have you ever gotten to the true bottom of things, explored the labyrinthine caves of deep ocean?
5. Do you know the first thing about death? Do you have one clue regarding death's dark mysteries?

How you doing? Am I going too fast for you? Need a break? OK. Take five and think how you will answer these few questions; but don't get too comfortable, because tomorrow I'll have plenty more to ask you!

PS - if you want a jump on the test, go read Job, chapters 38 through 42 (from the Message).

The Straight Talk about the Faith Walk (Part 4)

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"My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You're deeply rooted in him. You're well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught. School's out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving" (Colossians 2:6-7, The Message).

The end result of a life well-lived is thanksgiving, not only from the one who lives the life -- but from those all around who have been benefited by that person's living.

The differences between a thankful person and a thankless person are many. One is a blessing to be around, the other is a burden. One brings hope and joy everywhere they go, the other brightens up a room by leaving!

When you live a grateful and thankful life, others end up thanking God for sending you their way. How good is that? This is the life that makes a difference.

And this is why Paul tells us to "do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may be innocent and pure as God's perfect children, who live in a world of corrupt and sinful people. You must shine among them like stars lighting up the sky, as you offer them the message of life" (Philippians 2:14-16, Good News Bible).

The Message puts it this way -- "Do everything readily and cheerfully -- no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night."

The straight talk about the faith walk is simply this -- you've got what it takes to live the life that pleases God and blesses others. Now just do it.
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The Straight Talk about the Faith Walk (Part 3)

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"My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You're deeply rooted in him. You're well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught. School's out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving" (Colossians 2:6-7, The Message).

The way in, is the way on. The same faith and courage, love and surrender, trust and obedience it took for us to take our first fledgling steps in becoming followers of Jesus -- is the same way we continue following Him through all the ups and downs, ins and out, tunnels and hills, detours and blockades, on the byways and highways of this thing called Life.

The Bible assures us that we have been given everything we need to not only go the distance, but to make a meaningful difference along the way. "He by His own power has given to us everything we need to live a truly good life, a life that pleases Him" (see 2 Peter 1:3).

The straight talk about the faith walk comes down to this -- "School's out; quit studying the subject and start living it!"

Reading a manual on sky-diving is not the same as jumping out of the plane. In the same manner, reading and studying the Bible is not the same as living the dynamic life of faith which it celebrates on its pages. "Be doers of the word, and not hearers only," we are told.

When we "get with the program" our lives become the best advertisement for the authenticity of Christ's Message anywhere. And once we see the effects of grace extending through us to others, our lives spill over into thanksgiving -- sometimes like Niagara Falls!

(to be continued)
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The Straight Talk about the Faith Walk (Part 2)

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"My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You're deeply rooted in him. You're well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught. School's out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving" (Colossians 2:6-7, The Message).

Paul tells us, in so many words, to "get with the program." He basically removes all of our excuses for living a life that is less that what Christ has secured for us, and shows us in the simplest of words that we already have what it takes to go the distance.

He says, "You're deeply rooted in him. You're well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith." The Amplified Bible reads this way, "the roots of your being are firmly and deeply planted in Him, and you are continually being built up in Him, thereby becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith."

Putting it simple and straightforward, Jesus has this thing all worked out from start to finish, and now your life is being lived out by faith in His faithfulness. Your roots go deep, so nothing can displace you. Your life is well-constructed, so nothing can dismantle you. And you know your way around in the Faith, so nothing can dismay you.

And in a day when so many are being displaced, dismantled and dismayed -- can you not see the opportunity that the Lord has set before you? Indeed, He has set you in the midst of a situation filled with those who need a drink from your well, and a slice of that thing called the Bread of Life (which you carry about with you).

Isn't it time you started feeding the multitudes?

(to be continued)
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The Straight Talk about the Faith Walk (Part 1)

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"My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You're deeply rooted in him. You're well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught. School's out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving" (Colossians 2:6-7, The Message).

Sometimes we need someone to tell it to us simple and straightforward. No double-speak, no soft-peddling, no pampered words -- just give me the truth. That's what Paul is doing in this wonderful verse of Scripture. "My counsel for you," he says, "is simple and straightforward."

And then he says it in a single phrase: "Just go ahead with what you've been given!" And he follows that phrase with a simple explanation: "You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live in Him."

That, in a nutshell, is the secret of the life we long to experience. I once heard John Wimber, a man of God who influenced me in many ways, put it this way -- "The way in is the way on." In other words, the same faith and courage, love and surrender, trust and obedience that it took for you to take your first steps as a follower of Jesus -- is the same that it takes now for you to keep moving onward.

Day in and day out, through good times and bad, in the face of adversity or in the midst of prosperity, surrounded by friends, or all alone -- "just go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him."

Forget about yesterday, and don't worry about tomorrow. Just walk with Jesus today. How? By the same faith and courage, love and surrender, trust and obedience your first experienced when your journey began. After all, the straight talk about the faith walk is simply this -- you already have all that it takes to make it all the way!

We'll talk more about this tomorrow....
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A More Abundant Life

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"I’ve come that they might have life, and have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).

Our Parents blew it. I’m not talking about Mom and Dad; I’m talking about Adam and Eve. The choice they made so long ago was more than disastrous; it brought ruin to our Family.

God set before them a choice between the Tree of Life, and the Tree of Knowledge. They chose Knowledge. To be more specific, they choose the Knowledge of Good and Evil. In other words, they opted for the power of self-determination between what is good and what is evil; between right and wrong; between true and false; between just and unjust; between life and death.

That singular choice resulted in a viral contamination of the Human Family which has spread to global measure. Now we live live on a planet that is ruled by the opinions of opposing views. Thus we war, and kill; murder and maim; destroy and deconstruct all by the self-determination of what we ourselves think is good and evil.

Adam’s Fall brought about Abel’s murder, and Cain’s curse. And now the dark force of that selfish act has reached such tangled depths that we CANNOT recover from its snare – not by ourselves. We NEED a Savior.

Jesus is the One we are looking for. He came that we might have LIFE, and the Life He gives is abundant. for it empowers us to live above the common experience of our fallen state.

He restores us to our high calling of being men and women who live, not by our limited opinions of right and wrong, but by the Word of God which is true and life-giving. We can live by faith, instead of fear. We can live in hope, in love, and in peace by trusting in Him to do what He has promised.

He will forgive our sin, heal our brokenness, lift our spirits, and redeem our lives to a more noble and generous way of being, thinking, living and doing.

Now that is something worth having, and sharing with others!
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"You Can Kiss Your Donkey Goodbye!"

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"I am not trying to please people. I want to please God." (Galatians 1:10).

There's a story about an old man, a boy and a donkey on their way to town.The boy rode on the donkey and the old man walked. As they went along they passed some people who remarked that it was a shame the boy was riding, making the old man walk. The man and boy thought maybe the critics were right, so they changed positions.

Later, they passed some people that remarked, "What a shame that grown man makes a little boy walk." So they then decided they both would walk!

Soon they passed some more people who thought they were stupid to walk when they had a perfectly good donkey to ride. So, they both rode the donkey. At length they passed yet another group of people, who shamed them by saying how awful it was of them to put such a heavy load on a poor little donkey. The boy and man said they were probably right, so they decided to carry the donkey.

As they crossed over a bridge, they lost their grip on the donkey. He fell into the river and drowned.

The moral of the story: If you try to please everyone, you might as well kiss your, uh, donkey (or whatever else you call it) good-bye!!

Do you spend your life trying to please everybody? You will never be able to do it — give it a rest. Instead, why not play to an audience of One? He loves you, believes in you, and celebrates you. Why not live your life so as to please God?
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Becoming Who You Truly Are

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"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12).

I love the way The Massage puts this passage of scripture -- “He was in the world, the world was there through him, and yet the world didn't even notice. He came to his own people, but they didn't want him. But whoever did want him, who believed he was who he claimed and would do what he said, He made to be their true selves, their child-of-God selves.” (John 1:10-12, The Message).

When you accept Jesus for who He really is, He gives you the power to become who you truly are. You only alternative is to live a limited life of always trying to be who you think others want or expect you to be.

He who made the world, and did an amazing job of it, can certainly be trusted to do the same for you. He created you, and knows you better than you know yourself. He knows what your gifts and abilities are – even the ones you don’t even know you possess.

He knows your hopes and fears, your dreams and dreads; He knows every wound your heart has suffered, and each tear that has fallen from your eye. He knows what makes you laugh, what fills you with wonder, what stirs you with passion, and what causes you to pause in silent thought.

He knows what bothers you, what blesses you, and what burdens you.

He knows everything about you; your past, your present, and your future. He knows your failures, and your victories. He knows your potential, as well as the things that hold you back from reaching it.

He knows……and He loves you.

He loves you so much, in fact, that He stands ready to make you fully into the person you were created to become; to give you the power to become who you truly are; to live in the boundless benefits of being a child of God.

Why then continue living a pretend life; a life spent always trying to please those who are never satisfied? Live instead under the Father's smile and become who you truly are!!
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Good News People in a Bad News World

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"Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people" (Matthew 4:23).

John Wimber once said, “You cannot preach the Good News and be the bad news.” His point was well made. There exists in our society today a Christian stereotype -- the angry, right-wing, Bible-thumping, unrelenting, fundamental crusader denouncing the wickedness of a world gone mad with sin. You know, the kind of person that brightens up a room by leaving!

Thankfully this isn't true of many. Indeed, the vast majority of true believers have quietly been about the business of being and doing good. However, this is not newsworthy stuff. In a fast-paced, dog-eat-dog world, this is rather corny and sentimental. Therefore, only the hot-headed zealots make the news.

But, shouldn’t we fight? Yes and no. Yes, we should fight; but, no, not with the carnal weapons of the world. According to Scripture, ours is a fight of faith waged in the theater of prayer. We should not fight; we should pray. And, after prayer, we should obey the directives of the Lord.

Jesus said, “Not everyone that says to Me, ‘Lord. Lord.’, shall enter the kingdom of heaven; but, he that does the will of My father which is in heaven.

As followers of Jesus we must have more than a superficial faith, more than a mere acquiescence to the virtues of Christ -- we ourselves must be possessed of these truths. We must be men and women who have truth in the inward parts of our lives, foundational in the core of our characters, and who live it before others. In other words, we must become Good News people in a Bad News world.

It is so easy to talk of the things of God. Words are plenteous, and audiences are a dime a dozen. What is needed today is men and women who walk the things of God.

The song writer put it well, “Don’t talk of stars shining above. If you’re in love -- show me!” Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Charles Spurgeon was sharing with a class of ministerial students about the importance of making their facial expressions harmonize with their sermons. “When you speak of heaven,” he said, “let your face light up, let it be radiant with a heavenly gleam and let your eyes flash with divine glory. But, when you speak of hell....your ordinary face will do!”

Friends, let’s talk of heaven and show them Jesus in our faces. Let’s talk of love and show them Jesus in our deeds. Let’s talk of glory and show them Jesus in our conduct. Let’s become Good News people in a Bad News world!
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The Food Fight of Faith

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"Fight the good fight of the faith." (1 Timothy 6:12).

While leading a group discussion during a staff devotion at a church I was visiting, we discovered a typographical error in the notes that were handed out. Instead of saying “the good fight of Faith,” the notes read - “the food fight of faith.” We all had a good chuckle and tossed a few muffins about the room to show that we are indeed obedient to the Word.

As for me, the typo intrigued me more than a little - “the food fight of faith...” -- hmmm. I mulled it over and over in my mind, wondering if there was more there than a simple spelling mistake.

Jesus said, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about” (John 4:32). The disciples were completely baffled by His remark and asked one another, “Did you give Him something to eat?” Of course Jesus wasn’t talking about beans and cornbread, rather He was talking about the food that comes from heaven.

Jesus told His disciples, “Do not work for the food that spoils, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man shall give you” (John 6:27). So that none would doubt what He meant, the Lord said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God”(Matthew 4:4).

As the body would die without food and water, so the soul shall perish without the Word of God. This being true we may be assured of the fact that Satan will do whatever he can to keep us from the Word of God. This, then, is the food fight of faith!

Don’t expect a frontal assault from the enemy. He’s far to clever for that. He knows that you love and treasure the Word of God, and that you would not stand for any attack against it. Instead, he sabotages your time and distracts your attention. He preoccupies you with skirmishes on other battle fronts, or he lulls you into complacency with prolonged cease fire. All the while he is feverishly working at cutting you off from communication and supplies. If he succeeds he will win the war!

Isaiah asked, “Why spend money on what is not bread? And your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen to Me and eat what is good, and your soul will delight itself in the richest of fare” (Isaiah 55:2). Job’s confession should be our own: "I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread"(Job 23:12).

My friends -- fill yourselves up with the Word of God! And the devil won’t stand a chance against you in the food fight of faith!
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Closed for the Season?

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"Behold I stand at the door and knock." (Revelation 3:20).

Few things are more exasperating to a weary traveler than arriving at a place after hours of travel only to find a sign posted: “Closed for the Season.” There is a stunning finality in the words. The abrupt message is non-negotiable; there is no point in waiting around for someone who will go ahead and let you in, because it’s not going to happen.

There would be no problem if the sign said, “Back in Five Minutes,” or maybe, “Out to Lunch.” Perhaps even “Gone for the Day” would be bearable. But “Closed for the Season” is out of the question! Yet, it happens -- and we have to accept it when it does. Unfortunately, though, we often do the same thing in our personal lives as well.

Let me ask you a question: “Are you closed for the season?” You might ask, “What season!?” Why, the season of God’s visitation! That moment when He arrives at your door with blessings in hand; with healing for your brokenness, relief for your burdens, joy for your sorrow, and light for your darkened eyes.
Even now we are in a season of such a visitation; the Lord even now is saying, saying, "Behold I stand at the door and knock."

So I must ask, “Are you closed for the season?” When God arrives at your door, does He find the sign posted which turns Him away? Or will He find the sign that says, “Open 24hrs - Full Service.”

I urge you to stay open to the Holy Spirit, to the Word of God, to the fellowship of Believers, to the needs of those around you, and to the call of God that beckons you beyond yourself.

There is one other sign I should mention. Its the one that says “Closed -- Gone Out of Business.” One may be sure that if enough “Closed for the Season” signs are strung together, people will get the idea that you don’t want anybody around and they will stop showing up at your door. That would be sad enough, leaving you quite miserable.

But the worse scenario would be that the Lord Himself no longer visited you, seeing He was never accepted the many times He did come.

So, do you know what sign is posted at your door?
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The One Leader You Can Always Follow

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“And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Mark 8:34)

"Follow Me," Jesus said. Those are the words of a true leader; someone who knows who He is, and were He is going. Someone who knows what you are longing for, and what it takes to get you there.

The Message translates it this way, “Anyone who intends to come with Me has to let Me lead.” Leadership is both defined and demonstrated by the activity of leading. But it also requires that followers -- follow. Jesus asked, “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord’ but do not do the things which I say?”

Leadership is not a title, not a position, not a posture -- it is an activity.
Leaders lead -- because they know the way, and they possess the courage and capabilities of carrying those who will follow them. However, the followers must indeed follow.

Jesus concluded his discourse by saying, “If any of you are embarrassed over me and the way I’m leading you when you get around your fickle and unfocused friends, know that you will be even a greater embarrassment to the Son of Man when He arrives in all the splendor of God, his Father, with an army of holy angels.” (vs.38).

Fickle and unfocused friends. This is apt description of anyone who would in any way cause you to compromise your commitment to follow Jesus Christ. And, should you do so, then it very well may become the way you yourself are described when all is said and done! Yikes!!

Don’t be fickle and unfocused; follow the Leader! His name is Jesus Christ! He is the One Leader you can always follow.
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Jake the Rancher

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"In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." (Psalm 5:3).

Jake, the rancher went one day to fix a distant fence. The wind was cold and gusty, and the clouds were gray and dense. As he pounded the last staples and gathered tools to go,the temperature had fallen and the snow began to blow.

When he finally reached his pickup, he felt a heavy heart, from the sound of that ignition, he knew it wouldn't start. So Jake did what most of us would do if we'd have been there. He humbly bowed his balding head to say a little prayer.

As he turned the key for the last time, he softly cursed his luck. They found him three days later, frozen stiff in that old truck.

Now Jake had been around in life and done his share of roamin'. But he was amazed when he saw Heaven -- it looked just like Wyomin'. Of all the saints in Heaven, his favorite was St. Peter. And Jake was thrilled when the gates opened wide and Peter was the greeter! They sat and talked for a minute or two, or maybe it was three, Nobody was keepin' track of time – 'cause in Heaven time is free.

"I've always heard," Jake said to Pete, "that God will answer prayers, but one time when I needed Him, well, He just plain wasn't there. Does He answer the prayers of some, and ignore the prayers of others? That don't seem exactly square -- seeing we all are brothers. Or does he randomly reply, without good rhyme or reason? Maybe, it's the time of day, the weather or the season. Now I ain't trying to act smart, it's just the way I feel; and I was wonderin', could you tell me, Pete -- what the heck's the deal? "

Peter listened patiently and when ol’ Jake was done, a smile of recognition came, and he said, "So, you're the one! That day your truck, it wouldn't start, and you sent your prayers a flying, you gave us all a real bad time, with hundreds of us a trying. A thousand angels rushed to check the status of your file, but you know, Jake, we hadn't heard from you in quite a while. And though all prayers are answered, God ain't got no quota, -- but, He didn't recognize your voice, and started a truck in North Dakota!"

The moral of the story is make sure God recognizes your voice! Talk to Him every morning....and you just might discover that He will talk to you throughout every day.
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In Thy Light We See Light

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"For with Thee is the fountain of life: in Thy light shall we see light" (Psalm 36:9).

Here is one of those simple, yet profound riddles of Scripture. The first part is easily understood: “with Thee is the fountain of life.” We are created by God, preserved by Him with life and blessing. All that flows toward us for our good and well-being originates within Himself. He is the Fountain of Life.

But what does it mean when it says "in Thy light we see light?" How can one see light in the light? Commenting on this text Spurgeon said, “We need no candle to see the sun, we see it by its own radiance, and then see everything else by the same luster. The knowledge of God sheds light on all other subjects.”

This inspired riddle teaches us that in order to understand anything in life, we must first come to God, the Fountain of Life, and then see everything from His perspective.

You will never understand yourself or others until you see yourself and others in the light of the Lord. You will never understand marriage and family until you see it in the light of the Lord. You will never understand money and career until you see it in the light of the Lord. You will never understand mission and purpose in life until you see it in the light of the Lord. You will never understand anything until you see it in the light of the Lord.

Come to the Light! Let God shine into every area of your life and then you will truly see things as they are, as well as how they are supposed to be.

In the teachings of Jesus we read, “Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." (John 3:20,21)

The Apostle John, one of Jesus’ closest friends, said, “This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin”(1John 1:5-7).

Come to the Fountain; drink, live, and rejoice. Come to the Light; look, see, and understand. Come to the Lord; be cleansed, be saved, be filled.

In His Light...we see everything in its right light.
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A Multitude of Anxieties?

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"In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul" (Psalm 94:19).

Though centuries separate us from the Psalmist, yet in an instant we are joined with him in spirit when we find such timely phrases as these; words that are as though we wrote them ourselves. "In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul."

Have these down-turning days pressed your soul with any measure of concern?

Does the "changing of the guard" give you pause as a new form of governing begins to extend its reach across the land; laying hold upon things that heretofore were off-limits? Do the waffling/shouting/agenda-driven journalists, who slant the news to their bias, cause you to shake your head in disgust....and dismay?

Do the sparkling eyes and polished smiles of the new breed of televangelists exasperate you? One falls in moral shame, and like pop-tarts in a toaster, another suddenly emerges with sweet promises and padded shoulders.

Does your blood heat up more than just a little when you hear yet another report of corporate greed, flamboyant arrogance, and fiscal irresponsibility? And is your heart at all breaking over the plight of those who are losing everything they own, and facing a dark and uncertain future?

Then this Psalm is for YOU!

"Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O LORD, And teach out of Your law, that You may give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit is dug for the wicked. For the LORD will not cast off His people, nor will He forsake His inheritance" (Psalm 94:12-14).

In times like these the Lord can speak to you in ways that will keep you calm and composed; save you from murmuring, from despondency, and from impatience. He can hush the multitude of anxieties within you, and delight your soul with the comforts of His presence, His promises, His power, and His provisions.

Feeling better, dear?
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The Immovable Man

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"none of these things move me" (Acts 20:24).

Paul's dearest and most trusted friends, in every city he passed through, warned him of what would happen if he went forward with his plans to visit Jerusalem. "The Holy Spirit testifies that chains and tribulations await you there!"

These undeniable warnings, spoken in love, did not alarm Paul in the least, nor did they deter him from the great purpose to which he had devoted his life. Rather, they prepared him to move forward with his eyes wide open, and his resolve immovable.

A lesser man or woman may have opted for retirement in a sunny, coastal village; basking in the serenity of an unthreatened life; enjoying blissful mediocrity, indifferent to the great perils that others were now suffering because of his or her shirking of responsibility.

But Paul was made of thicker stuff. "None of these things move me," he said, "neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God" (Act 20:24).

There was a divine summons upon Paul's life, and it rendered him immovable in his course -- despite any and all opposition.

In fact, the more opposed he was -- the more determined he became. "We do not lose heart," he wrote. " Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Co 4:16-18).

A higher vision lifted his spirit far above the clamor of the carnal war which was unleashed against him. And in his composure, he exhorts us to follow his unwavering example -- "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (1Co 15:58).

In a day when the Flim-Flam Man is touted as a hero -- God give us men and women who are immovable!
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Have You Taken Inventory Lately? (Part 2)

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“Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.” (Psalm 26:2).

Honesty is crucial if our inventory is to serve any real purpose. For if we lie to ourselves at this point, then we have failed before we take even the first step. And to insure honesty, we really need someone else to assist us in our self-evaluation; someone who loves us, and will be objective in speaking truthfully to the vital issues in our lives.

Any story sounds true until someone sets the record straight. Solomon understood this long ago, and wrote, “He that is first in his own cause seems just; but his neighbor comes and searches him out” (Proverbs 18:17). And again, “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD ponders the hearts” (Proverbs 21:2). Indeed, who better to examine us than the Lord? “Examine me, O LORD,” whispered David, “and prove me; try my reins and my heart” (Psalm 26:2).

Here is an expanded paraphrase of this prayer: "Examine me, O Lord, from head to foot; order your battery of tests. Make sure I'm fit inside and out. Test my thoughts and find out what I am like. Put me on trial, LORD, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and affections. Look closely into my heart and mind, and judge my desires and thoughts. Go for it, Jesus; and don’t stop until You are done!"

Is this something you are ready to pray? Are you prepared for the Lord to answer such a prayer? He is more than ready to respond. What is it that holds you back? Is it fear of being found out? Is it guilt over something you have done? Is it shame over something that was done to you? Is it pride? Or, is it unbelief?

None of these things are worthy of your life, and you should not allow any of them to limit you from being who God created you to be, and fully experiencing all that the Lord has purposed for you. The truth is, He already knows what’s in your heart – and, He loves you anyway. The exam is for your benefit; not His.

There was a man who shrugged off his need for such examination. He was a rich man, who lived for only one purpose – to build bigger estates and expand his assets so as to secure for himself a life above and beyond the need for anything, or anyone. He enjoyed great success and fared sumptuously throughout his days upon this earth. Yet, in the end he had nothing. "Fool," was the final word facing him as he stepped from Time into Eternity. For on the night his soul was required of him, nothing of what he had laid up was of any use in the presence of Almighty God. (see Luke 12:16-21).

Jesus taught that Life does not consist of the things a man possesses. So, when it comes to taking inventory – we must look past our bank accounts, our educational degrees, our celebrated accomplishments, cherished awards, and other personal achievements. We must look instead to the inner chambers of our souls. What do you have in there that will carry on beyond the grave?

That, in the final analysis, is what matters most of all.
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Have You Taken Inventory Lately? (Part 1)

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“Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.” (Psalm 26:2).

There is in every man or woman who desires to be truly successful and effective in life, an intuitive sense that requires of them a personal commitment to self-examination so as to insure they will have what it takes to deliver the goods when the moment of opportunity knocks. (Hey, you should read that sentence one more time; seriously, it's that good!)

Indeed, inherent to every significant advance in life is a time of individual introspection; a season when we take inventory and honestly assess who we are, what we’ve got, where we are headed, and how we plan to get there.

Inventory. Webster’s defines it as “an itemized list of current assets; a catalog of the property of an individual or an estate. A list of goods on hand. A survey of resources. A list of traits, preferences, attitudes, interests, or abilities used to evaluate personal characteristics or skills.”

Have you taken inventory lately?

There are defining moments in life when we each need to take inventory; not so much as it pertains to material wealth or other tangible possessions, but rather as it concerns the condition of our souls. We need to take stock on the welfare of our spirit; a real heart examination – not of the cardiovascular pump, but of the deepest interior of our very selves.

In other words, we need to ask God to take stock of our heart’s true state – and then face up to what He says. Left to ourselves, our inspections can be misleading. For our self-perceptions are not always trustworthy. “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing,” was the boast of one sad lot of Christians who lived long ago in a town called Laodicea.

But when Christ took inventory of their lives, His report was altogether different. “You don’t know how bad off you are,” Jesus said, “you are pitiable like a blind beggar, poor like a miserable wretch, threadbare and homeless like a poverty-stricken outcast” (see Revelation 3:17). We tend to see ourselves as we want to be, rather than as we are.

Thus, to insure that our lives may truly excel, we must pray, “Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.”

If we will -- then He will. And when He does, He will sort us out and set us up so that all things work together for our good!
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The Dumbest Kid in the World?

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"But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise" (1 Corinthians 1:27).

There was this guy, a barber working on a customer, who noticed through the window a boy approaching the Barber Shop. "Hey, see that kid?" he asked the customer. "That's the dumbest kid in the world! Watch closely what happens when he comes in here."

The door opened and the kid came walking into the Barber Shop. "Good morning, Mister," the kid said. "Why, good morning to you," the Barber answered. "Say, you want to play our game again?"

"I sure do!" the kid excitedly replied.

The Barber whispered to the customer, "Watch this." Placing a dollar bill in one hand, and two quarters in the other, the Barber said to the kid, "Now, which of these do you want?"

The kid looked at the dollar bill, then looked at the two quarters. After a moment's pause, he grabbed the quarters, smiled real big and said, "Gee, thanks, Mister!" And then walked out the door.

"What did I tell you," the Barber said to his customer. "That kid is dumber than a stump! He does that every time he comes in here."

A short time later the customer, upon leaving the Barber Shop, saw the kid coming out of the Candy Store. "Hey kid," the customer said, "why didn't you take the dollar bill?"

The kid looked up with a wry smile and answered, "Mister, the day I take that dollar -- the game is over!"

Turns out the Barber was dumber than the dumbest kid in the world! And the same is true of many others -- especially when it comes to grabbing for dollars. But that's another subject for another time.
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