"I am losing all hope;
I am paralyzed with fear.
I remember the days of old.
I ponder all your great works
and think about what you have done." Psalm 143:4,5 NLT
Yesterday we looked at how looking back at past sins, desires, pains, shame and failures can stop us dead in our tracks. In other words, we get into a rut and never come out of it. We set ourselves up for failure.
However, there are times that looking back at the past can be helpful. It's what we choose to focus on. When David wrote Psalm 143, he was at a low point in his life. To encourage himself, he remembered the past goodness, love and power of God, that he had experienced in his life.
Years ago my family relocated from Colorado back to California. The transition didn't go as smoothly as we anticipated. I remember Peggy telling me one night that we were not going to have enough money to pay our bills. I was pretty discouraged. My faith was low. We gave as the Bible said to. We loved and served the Lord. Yet we found ourselves living in a travel trailer and broke!
The next morning I read a passage of scripture that talked about God taking care of us. I remember thinking, "Lord, that's easy to believe when things are going our way. But not now." That day, as we attend church service, a couple gave Peggy and I an envelope. Inside was a card with the verse I had read just that morning and a cash gift that exactly met our needs. We never told anyone about our trouble or the scripture I had read. God placed it on that couple's heart to help us.
I look back to this story when my faith gets low. I look back to the times in my life and the lives of others when God has been our strong support. It gives me strength and hope.
What are you looking back at? Is it giving you strength and hope? Look to Jesus, our living hope.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Looking Back- Part 1
"But Lot’s wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into a pillar of salt." Genesis 19:26 NLT
One day I was jogging. I enjoy jogging and this day in particular was fantastic. It was a warm midsummer morning. I was in the foothills of the California Sierra Nevada mountains. As I was jogging, a dog came toward me. I have a fear of dogs. When I was a teenager I was attacked by a couple of dogs. I tried not to show any fear and kept jogging. As I approached the dog, I looked at it out of the corner of my eye. It just looked at me. When I passed the dog, I started to turn around and look back. Then I remembered Lot's wife.
The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were wicked. God planned on destroying them. However, He knew that Lot was a righteous man. So God chose to save Lot and his family before He destroyed their city. God's angels told Lot and his family to leave the city and not look back. As Lot's family left the city, his wife did looked back. She was stopped, dead in her tracks. I don't know why she looked back, but she did.
Many of us are like Lot's wife. We look back. We look back at past failures. We look back at past sins. We look back to old hurts, abuse, and anything else. And we get stopped dead in our tracks. I have a relative who is now in his eighties. When he was young his mother spoke a very harsh word to him. He never got over the hurt. His past kept him from being able to emotionally move forward. I lived in Yosemite Park for many years. God called my family to ministry in Colorado. Whenever it got rough, I would look back to Yosemite. The Lord had to bring us back to Yosemite, so I would get it out of my system. Only then, could we move forward in the call that God had for us.
What are you looking back at? What past failure, hurt, anger or pleasure is keeping you from moving forward into the life God has planned for you?
Give your past to Jesus so you can fully live in His present.
"But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62 NLT
One day I was jogging. I enjoy jogging and this day in particular was fantastic. It was a warm midsummer morning. I was in the foothills of the California Sierra Nevada mountains. As I was jogging, a dog came toward me. I have a fear of dogs. When I was a teenager I was attacked by a couple of dogs. I tried not to show any fear and kept jogging. As I approached the dog, I looked at it out of the corner of my eye. It just looked at me. When I passed the dog, I started to turn around and look back. Then I remembered Lot's wife.
The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were wicked. God planned on destroying them. However, He knew that Lot was a righteous man. So God chose to save Lot and his family before He destroyed their city. God's angels told Lot and his family to leave the city and not look back. As Lot's family left the city, his wife did looked back. She was stopped, dead in her tracks. I don't know why she looked back, but she did.
Many of us are like Lot's wife. We look back. We look back at past failures. We look back at past sins. We look back to old hurts, abuse, and anything else. And we get stopped dead in our tracks. I have a relative who is now in his eighties. When he was young his mother spoke a very harsh word to him. He never got over the hurt. His past kept him from being able to emotionally move forward. I lived in Yosemite Park for many years. God called my family to ministry in Colorado. Whenever it got rough, I would look back to Yosemite. The Lord had to bring us back to Yosemite, so I would get it out of my system. Only then, could we move forward in the call that God had for us.
What are you looking back at? What past failure, hurt, anger or pleasure is keeping you from moving forward into the life God has planned for you?
Give your past to Jesus so you can fully live in His present.
"But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62 NLT
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Life on the Edge
"My son, pay attention to my wisdom;
listen carefully to my wise counsel.
Then you will show discernment,
and your lips will express what you’ve learned.
For the lips of an immoral woman are as sweet as honey,
and her mouth is smoother than oil.
But in the end she is as bitter as poison,
as dangerous as a double-edged sword.
Her feet go down to death;
her steps lead straight to the grave.
For she cares nothing about the path to life.
She staggers down a crooked trail and doesn’t realize it.
So now, my sons, listen to me.
Never stray from what I am about to say:
Stay away from her!
Don’t go near the door of her house!" Proverbs 5:1-8 NLT
The wise writer of Proverbs speaks to the danger of immorality. Now the Bible says that immorality is sin. So, for the sake of discussion, I would like us to consider the above passage not only as it applies to sexual immortality, but to sin in general. All sin.
The last verse is the one that really hammers it for me. The writer says to not even go near the door of sin. That's where I struggle at times and have give into sin.
The problem is that I like to live life on the edge. I was the kid that pushed boundaries and limits. I liked playing with fire. At times I still do, metaphorically speaking, and then I get burned.
The world around us and our culture is always calling us to sin's door. I think that the hearts of many Christians desire to please Jesus. The problem is, we sometimes also desire to please ourselves in ways that are spiritually, emotionally and physically harmful. And sometimes that desire is stronger than our desire to please Jesus. So we flirt with sin. Eventually the more we flirt, the closer to sin's door we get. The next thing we know, the door is slammed behind us and we are trapped. I know this first hand.
So what are we to do?
Stay away from sin! If you struggle with porn, put a blocker on your computer. Ask a friend to hold you accountable. If you are struggling with a inappropriate relationship, break it off, or at the very least, set and maintain accountable boundaries. If you struggle with an addiction, don't drive by your favorite bar. These are just a few examples. You get the point.
Look to Jesus, not sin's door. He promises help in our weakness. He's our strength--you can't do it alone. If you have given into sin, humbly give yourself to Jesus. He promises love and forgiveness.
So, how close to the edge are you right now?
"Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy[b] awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne." Hebrews 12:1,2 NLT
listen carefully to my wise counsel.
Then you will show discernment,
and your lips will express what you’ve learned.
For the lips of an immoral woman are as sweet as honey,
and her mouth is smoother than oil.
But in the end she is as bitter as poison,
as dangerous as a double-edged sword.
Her feet go down to death;
her steps lead straight to the grave.
For she cares nothing about the path to life.
She staggers down a crooked trail and doesn’t realize it.
So now, my sons, listen to me.
Never stray from what I am about to say:
Stay away from her!
Don’t go near the door of her house!" Proverbs 5:1-8 NLT
The wise writer of Proverbs speaks to the danger of immorality. Now the Bible says that immorality is sin. So, for the sake of discussion, I would like us to consider the above passage not only as it applies to sexual immortality, but to sin in general. All sin.
The last verse is the one that really hammers it for me. The writer says to not even go near the door of sin. That's where I struggle at times and have give into sin.
The problem is that I like to live life on the edge. I was the kid that pushed boundaries and limits. I liked playing with fire. At times I still do, metaphorically speaking, and then I get burned.
The world around us and our culture is always calling us to sin's door. I think that the hearts of many Christians desire to please Jesus. The problem is, we sometimes also desire to please ourselves in ways that are spiritually, emotionally and physically harmful. And sometimes that desire is stronger than our desire to please Jesus. So we flirt with sin. Eventually the more we flirt, the closer to sin's door we get. The next thing we know, the door is slammed behind us and we are trapped. I know this first hand.
So what are we to do?
Stay away from sin! If you struggle with porn, put a blocker on your computer. Ask a friend to hold you accountable. If you are struggling with a inappropriate relationship, break it off, or at the very least, set and maintain accountable boundaries. If you struggle with an addiction, don't drive by your favorite bar. These are just a few examples. You get the point.
Look to Jesus, not sin's door. He promises help in our weakness. He's our strength--you can't do it alone. If you have given into sin, humbly give yourself to Jesus. He promises love and forgiveness.
So, how close to the edge are you right now?
"Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy[b] awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne." Hebrews 12:1,2 NLT
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Life Plan
"The Lord will work out His plans for my life—
for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.
Don’t abandon me, for you made me." Psalm 138:8 NLT
Have you ever made a plan? Planning is a part of my life. When I was in the corporate world I had to make and live by a business plan. In ministry we make ministry plans. There is the household budget. Home improvement plan. Fitness plan. Career plan. Marriage plan. The fact is that most of us have some type of plan for our lives.
The problem with plans is that they don't always happen. Or they may not happen as good as we anticipate. The corporation that plans for a high margin of profit, only to fail because of a recession. The boy that plans to marry his childhood sweetheart, only to have her fall in love with his best friend. I planned on climbing the Royal Arches in Yosemite. A week before the climb, I broke a bone in my wrist that had be in a cast for 16 weeks. Then I decided I no longer wanted to climb. Plans are good, but they don't always succeed.
Some plans work out better than we anticipated. I planned on getting married but I never planned on a wife as awesome as Peggy!
The point is that we can only control so much. When our plans don't happen the way we want, we can get discouraged, disappointed and depressed. We can even get angry or give up. That's how I felt for six years. Nothing I planned--as far as my career, purchasing a home or income--seemed to be happening. It was as though God had forgotten about me. I was watching everyone around me achieve their plans, but I seemed to be going nowhere. Or so I thought. God had a different plan for my life. He would make it happen in the time that He planned--not me.
When we lay our agenda down and ask God to cause His will to be done, something marvelous happens; God brings His plans for our lives into being. The Bible says,
"For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago." Ephesians 2:10 NLT
God has good plans for us. What are your plans? Do they include Jesus?
for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.
Don’t abandon me, for you made me." Psalm 138:8 NLT
Have you ever made a plan? Planning is a part of my life. When I was in the corporate world I had to make and live by a business plan. In ministry we make ministry plans. There is the household budget. Home improvement plan. Fitness plan. Career plan. Marriage plan. The fact is that most of us have some type of plan for our lives.
The problem with plans is that they don't always happen. Or they may not happen as good as we anticipate. The corporation that plans for a high margin of profit, only to fail because of a recession. The boy that plans to marry his childhood sweetheart, only to have her fall in love with his best friend. I planned on climbing the Royal Arches in Yosemite. A week before the climb, I broke a bone in my wrist that had be in a cast for 16 weeks. Then I decided I no longer wanted to climb. Plans are good, but they don't always succeed.
Some plans work out better than we anticipated. I planned on getting married but I never planned on a wife as awesome as Peggy!
The point is that we can only control so much. When our plans don't happen the way we want, we can get discouraged, disappointed and depressed. We can even get angry or give up. That's how I felt for six years. Nothing I planned--as far as my career, purchasing a home or income--seemed to be happening. It was as though God had forgotten about me. I was watching everyone around me achieve their plans, but I seemed to be going nowhere. Or so I thought. God had a different plan for my life. He would make it happen in the time that He planned--not me.
When we lay our agenda down and ask God to cause His will to be done, something marvelous happens; God brings His plans for our lives into being. The Bible says,
"For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago." Ephesians 2:10 NLT
God has good plans for us. What are your plans? Do they include Jesus?
Monday, February 23, 2009
Our Source of Strength
"As soon as I pray, you answer me;
you encourage me by giving me strength." Psalm 138:3 NLT
There are a lot of things in life that can zap our strength, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Disease attacks our bodies. The pressures of getting by in life weigh on our emotions. And the forces of evil and our culture bombard our spirits.
What are we to do?
The psalmist gives us the answer. In his distress he prayed. He called on the Lord. All too often, I try to think it through, reason things out, find the loophole. But our first response should be to pray. When we pray, heaven opens and the supernatural favor of God is poured upon us and whatever situation we are struggling with.
God gives us encouragement. In fact, in describing the ministry of the Holy Spirit, Jesus said that the Spirit would encourage, comfort and be an advocate for us.
As we receive the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, we are filled with strength. Jesus told His first followers to wait in Jerusalem until they received the Holy Spirit and were filled with His power. The Greek word for power is the root word that we use for the word "dynamite." Imagine that kind of power and strength in whatever situation that is challenging you right now.
What is draining you of life and strength right now? What areas of your life seem to be crushing down on you?
"I give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart;
I will sing your praises before the gods.
I bow before your holy Temple as I worship.
I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness;
for your promises are backed
by all the honor of your name.
As soon as I pray, you answer me;
you encourage me by giving me strength." Psalm 138:1-3 NLT
you encourage me by giving me strength." Psalm 138:3 NLT
There are a lot of things in life that can zap our strength, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Disease attacks our bodies. The pressures of getting by in life weigh on our emotions. And the forces of evil and our culture bombard our spirits.
What are we to do?
The psalmist gives us the answer. In his distress he prayed. He called on the Lord. All too often, I try to think it through, reason things out, find the loophole. But our first response should be to pray. When we pray, heaven opens and the supernatural favor of God is poured upon us and whatever situation we are struggling with.
God gives us encouragement. In fact, in describing the ministry of the Holy Spirit, Jesus said that the Spirit would encourage, comfort and be an advocate for us.
As we receive the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, we are filled with strength. Jesus told His first followers to wait in Jerusalem until they received the Holy Spirit and were filled with His power. The Greek word for power is the root word that we use for the word "dynamite." Imagine that kind of power and strength in whatever situation that is challenging you right now.
What is draining you of life and strength right now? What areas of your life seem to be crushing down on you?
"I give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart;
I will sing your praises before the gods.
I bow before your holy Temple as I worship.
I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness;
for your promises are backed
by all the honor of your name.
As soon as I pray, you answer me;
you encourage me by giving me strength." Psalm 138:1-3 NLT
Friday, February 20, 2009
Experiencing God's Presence in Solitude
"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed." Mark 1:35 NIV
Jesus knew what it was like to have a full schedule. He ministered to crowds of people. He was in high demand. People were always trying to get near Him. Jesus made it a practice to find alone time with His Heavenly Father. He had to make an effort to find times of solitude.
Being alone with God isn't always easy. We find ways to stay too busy. We get programmed to fill our time with other things. We wake up and turn on the news. We get in the car and turn on the radio. We boot up the computer. Even when we find time to walk or jog, we turn on the IPOD.
We need to make the time to be alone with God. When the static of the world around us is muted, we can then listen to the voice of the Lord. I have learned to set apart times of solitude with God. It may be in my truck with the radio turned off. It may be when I'm jogging, taking a hike, on the back of a horse, or sitting alone in my living room. It is during these intentional times of solitude, that I can listen to God through prayer, reading His word, or just being still & silent. They are very special and invaluable times in my relationship with Jesus.
What are the ways that you can set apart one-on-one time with your Heavenly Father? What's keeping you from it?
"Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 1 Kings 19:11-13 NLT
Jesus knew what it was like to have a full schedule. He ministered to crowds of people. He was in high demand. People were always trying to get near Him. Jesus made it a practice to find alone time with His Heavenly Father. He had to make an effort to find times of solitude.
Being alone with God isn't always easy. We find ways to stay too busy. We get programmed to fill our time with other things. We wake up and turn on the news. We get in the car and turn on the radio. We boot up the computer. Even when we find time to walk or jog, we turn on the IPOD.
We need to make the time to be alone with God. When the static of the world around us is muted, we can then listen to the voice of the Lord. I have learned to set apart times of solitude with God. It may be in my truck with the radio turned off. It may be when I'm jogging, taking a hike, on the back of a horse, or sitting alone in my living room. It is during these intentional times of solitude, that I can listen to God through prayer, reading His word, or just being still & silent. They are very special and invaluable times in my relationship with Jesus.
What are the ways that you can set apart one-on-one time with your Heavenly Father? What's keeping you from it?
"Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 1 Kings 19:11-13 NLT
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Experiencing the Presence of God in His Word
"By your words I can see where I'm going;
they throw a beam of light on my dark path." Psalm 119:105 The Message
I love reading the Bible. I didn't always. I had a hard time understanding the Bible. I was confused, frustrated, or lost whenever I tried to read it. But after I gave my life to Christ an amazing thing happened. The Holy Spirit began opening my heart and eyes to the truths of God's word.
Unfortunately, many Christians don't spend time in God's word. We find time for everything else. We live confused, frustrated and unchanged lives. The Bible alone will not change a person's life. It takes a relationship with Jesus. But once you give your life to God, He sends His Spirit to help open your heart & mind to be able to understand His scriptures. No longer are the writings of the Bible just stories, theology or good teachings. They become one of the ways that God reaches out and speaks to us. We experience the presence of God as we read, listen and meditate on His word.
When Peggy was diagnosed with cancer, we found comfort and strength as we read and believed God's word. When faced with relational, financial or other challenges, God's word guides us. Just today it happened. Relationally, Peggy and I have had a rough couple of days. This morning in Peggy's time in the Bible, the scripture she read spoke to her heart.
God speaks to us. One of the main ways is through His word. The world, our culture, our past, our brokenness, our failures and our accomplishments will also speak to us.
What are you listening to?
"For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires." Hebrews 4:12 NLT
they throw a beam of light on my dark path." Psalm 119:105 The Message
I love reading the Bible. I didn't always. I had a hard time understanding the Bible. I was confused, frustrated, or lost whenever I tried to read it. But after I gave my life to Christ an amazing thing happened. The Holy Spirit began opening my heart and eyes to the truths of God's word.
Unfortunately, many Christians don't spend time in God's word. We find time for everything else. We live confused, frustrated and unchanged lives. The Bible alone will not change a person's life. It takes a relationship with Jesus. But once you give your life to God, He sends His Spirit to help open your heart & mind to be able to understand His scriptures. No longer are the writings of the Bible just stories, theology or good teachings. They become one of the ways that God reaches out and speaks to us. We experience the presence of God as we read, listen and meditate on His word.
When Peggy was diagnosed with cancer, we found comfort and strength as we read and believed God's word. When faced with relational, financial or other challenges, God's word guides us. Just today it happened. Relationally, Peggy and I have had a rough couple of days. This morning in Peggy's time in the Bible, the scripture she read spoke to her heart.
God speaks to us. One of the main ways is through His word. The world, our culture, our past, our brokenness, our failures and our accomplishments will also speak to us.
What are you listening to?
"For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires." Hebrews 4:12 NLT
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