August 29, 2024

           Change Begins with You

Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save,

Nor his ear too dull to hear.

But your iniquities have separated you from your God;

Your sins have hidden his face from you,

so that he will not hear.

For your hands are stained with blood,

your fingers with guilt.

Your lips have spoken falsely,

and your tongue mutters wicked things.

– Isaiah 59:1-3

We pray for our nation to turn back to Him. We pray that God will remember us and once again bless our land. We pray that He will deliver us from the evil forces that threaten our values. We expect God to save us from ourselves.

We are quick to point out the sins of others. We are certain that our sins, few that they might be, are not keeping our nation from prosperity and God’s favor. Our ways are good. Our walk is certain. Except it isn’t.

We have failed to provide for the least among us. We demand anyone in need jump through hoops we’ve created so that they may prove themselves worthy. We hold close to our money and possessions. We’ve worked hard to provide for ourselves and our families and we are certain that anyone in need must be lazy or on drugs.

We have judged what is not ours to judge. We have turned away from the needy, the poor, the abused. We have failed to care for the elderly, the widow and the orphan. We have demanded blessings for ourselves without thought or care for anyone else.

We live in a self-indulgent society with little care for anyone else. Money has become our god. It’s second only to the god of ourselves. We wonder where God is in our nation. We fail to see the stain on our own hands even as we point our fingers to those we see as godless.

What can we do to turn our nation back to the God we proclaim? Change begins with each individual. It’s not a sweeping national election or even a local food bank or church. Change begins when each person who proclaims Christ as Lord and Savior actually begins to live as Jesus lived.

Do you want our nation to change? Then do your part. Be kind. Show compassion. Give where you can without judgment or reservation. Be humble. Put others before yourself. Love your enemies. Pray fervently and never fail to listen to the Holy Spirit as He directs you.

God can heal our land. But first let’s show Him that we are willing to serve His people and not our own agendas.

July 4, 2023

 

Change What is Acceptable

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance. – Psalm 33:12

 

We are in political season in the United States. It seems as though we are always in political season. We’ve got national races, state races and local races. Many candidates offer themselves as the “Christian” candidate. Does such a person even exist anymore?

 

We pick and choose the issues that best suit us. We are against abortion but refuse to show financial compassion for widows and children. We vow to keep foreigners from our land even though God told us to welcome them. We condemn others for their sins but refuse to acknowledge our own sins.

 

Should I continue? We speed – which is breaking the law. We drink to excess – though the Bible tells us not to. We commit adultery with our hearts and sometimes our bodies – though both clearly violates the Bible. And with every step we take, we make excuses rather than accept responsibility.

 

We see it in the political arena again and again. It’s as though we choose our candidates based on which sins we are most likely to justify. We all sin. It’s just a matter of which sins are most acceptable.

 

Today I’ve seen this verse thrown around repeatedly. We all know we should ask God to bless our nation. We all know we should live according to His Word. We all know that government and politicians need to do different. But what we don’t seem to know is that change begins with us. When we change our behavior to more align with Christ, we change how we view the sins of others.

 

Honesty. Integrity. Kindness. Compassion. Those are all attributes of a Christian. So why are those things so often missing from the political arena? That will only change when we change how we view the lies and ugliness from all politicians.

June 20, 2022

 

Change Starts with You

 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. – Galatians 5:22-23

 

What does kindness mean to you? If you are kind to someone else, do you expect accolades or at least reciprocation? Do you tell everyone about your wonderful deed?

 

What about patience? Are you patient with others as God is patient with you? Or do you get in a hurry, yelling and gesturing at other drivers or bad-mouthing the fast-food worker for not performing to your expectations?

 

Are you faithful to God ALL the time or only when it’s convenient? Do you show up for church, volunteer, tithe and study the Bible only when it fits into your busy schedule? Do you explain away your good intentions even as another week goes by?

 

We’ve all been talking about guns and gun violence. We’ve pointed fingers and blamed mental illness, all the while clinging to our own rights and views. We’ve told others they need to change but we refuse to open our minds to our responsibilities.

 

This is not where I lecture you on guns or the poor or even on going to church. I support the Second Amendment, giving to the poor and attending church each week. But mostly I advocate for change in how we treat other people each and every day. That’s where change starts. Not in Washington or in other political groups. It doesn’t even start in the “church” as we call it. Change begins with you and me and when we change, when we become more like Jesus, the world around us begins to change too.

 

Yesterday we studied the Fruit of the Spirit, found in Galatians. We didn’t focus on the things we shouldn’t do. Instead, we focused on what we as individuals could do to bring change within our own hearts so that it ripples out into the world.

 

Growing fruit seems so easy. Start with love and everything else flows from that. But we have trouble loving people who aren’t like us. We don’t particularly want to accept people who don’t look like us or talk like us or, let’s get real here, are born into our country to parents who have been here a while.

 

What would happen if we stopped judging people? What would change if we intentionally loved those around us, including those we don’t agree with and those who maybe haven’t met our expectations of what living a good life really looks like?

 

Jesus said we are the light of the world. Each day we have a choice. We can love and, in so doing, be living examples of the Fruit of the Spirit. Or we can remain self-focused, determined to keep our own best interests ahead of what God actually tells us to do.

 

Do you want to change what’s wrong with the world? Look in the mirror. That’s the person you start with.

July 1, 2021

 

Look in the Mirror

 

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves. – Philippians 2:3-4

 

“It’s all about me.” That seems to be the mantra of so many people these days. It’s not about politics or religion. In fact, people who claim faith sometimes seem to be the worst offenders.

 

How we live our daily lives reflects who we are deep inside. Do you let the car waiting to get out move in front of you even if it means you will miss the green light? Are you honest in business, even if it means losing a customer? Do you tell the truth, make the donation, sacrifice your time even when you will get nothing in return?

 

We wonder what’s wrong with the world, pointing fingers at the opposing political party, people from another faith or no faith at all, and those who are struggling financially. We fail to notice the person in the mirror. We refuse to accept our share of the blame for all the discord in our world.

 

Change starts with you. And with me. It’s the small gestures that ripple out as light into a dark world. Stop blaming others for the decline in moral values. Refuse to be sucked in to the belief that people always cause their own misery. (See Job for reference.) And learn to embrace a basic tenant that doing good is always the right thing even when it costs you.

November 7, 2019

The Old Made New

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. – 2 Corinthians 5:17

The John Deere tractor fires up without a second’s hesitation. I shift it into gear and soon we are headed through an open gate toward a field that is overgrown with weeds. I drop the bush hog and it begins to slice the weeds with precision.

Up and down the hills and terraces we go. Each pass reveals more of the beauty that lies beneath the weeds. I love that about bush hogging. Results are immediate and distinctive. Each movement forward erases the darkness that once seemed overwhelming.

I spent most of my life being told I couldn’t drive a tractor and, surely, would never be able to bush hog a field. I’ve surprised everyone, perhaps even myself. But not God. Nothing ever surprises God. He knows exactly what we are capable of accomplishing if we will only believe.

Oh, it hasn’t always been smooth. I’m only now bush hogging some of the steeper areas of the property. I’ve learned to go slow and hold tight. It’s like going through a tough time in life. Holding tight to God, to His promises, will see you through the darkest days. It doesn’t mean those days won’t come. They will. But it means you are anchored in truth and held close by a loving Father who cherishes you.

When you give your life into His care, it’s amazing what becomes possible. Stepping out in faith allows you to do what you never thought possible. Holding tight to the One who loves you most allows Him to transform your life into something new.

The pasture looks beautiful today. The weeds and thorns of yesterday are gone and new growth has sprung up in its place. See, He’s doing a new thing. It is beautiful and it is good.

July 20, 2019

Live Boldly

He called out, “Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!”

Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” -- Luke 18:38-39

No matter what you do in life there will be somebody telling you not to it. There will always be someone to say you can’t or that your plans are destined to fail. That’s just how life is.

Sadly, some of the worst critics are members of the faith community. They are the modern-day Pharisees, so determined to protect their rules that they miss the point.

They lash out at the Children’s Director for exchanging the Easter egg hunt for a fun event that’s biblically based. The kids love it while some adults grumble. They are the ones who’d rather use their tithes to add to their own comfort rather than help the working poor. They aren’t interested in outreach unless it’s reaching for people just like them.

Maybe you know someone like this. Maybe you are someone like this. Maybe you wish people who just shut up and stop trying to bring change. Maybe you’re one of the crowd shouting for others to stay silent.

Jesus’ church can never grow if we insist it remain the same. We can never serve those He calls us to serve if we don’t want share our pews, our meals, our money. And if we don’t grow, well, there’s that other alternative. We die.

Jesus beckoned this blind beggar to come to Him.

“What do you want me to do for you?”

“Lord, I want to see,” he replied.

Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” – Luke 18:41-42

Do you want to be healed? Do you want to see Jesus clearly? Then look to the cross. Really look. With an open heart, an open mind and an open hand.

January 5, 2018

Spend Time Wisely

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. – Psalm 90:12

We think we’ve got all the time in the world, don’t we? That little cliché rests deep in our hearts. We’re certain we can procrastinate, put off, wait another day for whatever it is we know we should do.

Then one day, sometimes without warning, everything changes. Sudden death, illness, divorce, job loss. The list could go on and on. But there is one thing they all have in common: You and the life you imagined have changed forever.

Have you ever known someone who retired and then, within just a few months, was dead? All their life they’d dreamed about retirement. They were going to sleep late, lounge in the recliner, watch endless TV. It was going to be the perfect life. They just never expected death to come so quickly.

Or what about the man who worked hard year after year so that one day he could retire and travel tirelessly with his wife? It was going to be the perfect life. Except that in his relentless pursuit of the future, he put off medical checkups in the present. By the time the doctor found the cancer, it has spread. Stage IV, they called it. He won’t live long enough to take all those trips he postponed.

We tell ourselves we’ll play with our kids or grandkids “one day.” We promise to call, to write, to visit “one day.” We’re going to volunteer at the food pantry “one day.” We’re going to read the Bible all the way through “one day.” Do you see a pattern here?

None of us are promised anything beyond this moment. Yet we live our lives as though we’ve got forever to get around to doing what we’d always intended to do. Why is that?

We are a people who like to procrastinate. We settle down into our comfortable lives of today and dream about a tomorrow that may never come. We put off living until it’s too late. Then we look back and wonder what took us so long to realize what really mattered.

People matter. Giving matters. Helping others without expectation of anything in return matters. Sitting there watching mindless television doesn’t really matter. Playing video games doesn’t really matter.

We’ve got our lives so messed up sometimes. We neglect what energizes us – time with God, sleep, giving back – and focus on what drains us – gossip, drinking, gadgets.

It’s not that zoning out in front of the TV is all bad. Nor is playing video games or any number of other escapist activities. It’s when those things consume us to the point that we neglect what matters most that we need to step back and remember how fleeting life really can be.

Each of us has the same number of hours each day. How are you spending yours? Are you moving forward, giving back, spending quality time with those you love? Or are you turned within, just trying to get through the days while you wait for a perfect tomorrow?

Don’t wait. Take that trip. Play with your kids. Serve others for Christ. We don’t know how long our journey home will take so make every day count.

January 2, 2019

Change

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. – Ecclesiastes 3:1

I have become a word person. It was something I never intended. I simply wasn’t one of those people who chose a word each year. Life isn’t that predictable. How could it possibly be that I would choose a word in January and have it still be relevant in December?

Well, the short answer is that God has a way of leading us on the path of His choosing. That’s how I became a word person

This year’s word is change. I didn’t pick it out. I’m not someone who does change easily. While I certainly like to sometimes try new things and visit new places, I like my routine. What about you? Do you like change or do you prefer a predictable life?

I’ve come to understand that my resistance to change comes from a place of sorrow. Have you ever lost someone suddenly? I have. Have you ever been completely betrayed by someone you trusted? I have. Have you ever had your world destroyed by sudden health issues? I have. So while I recognize that some change can be good and wonderful, I also know firsthand that change can sometimes bring a broken heart and shattered soul.

My first response to God’s word for me was fear. It was that “oh no!” heart-pounding response from someone who has had way too much change in recent years. I’m fine where I am, as I am. And, yet, God has called me to more.

He is teaching me that all change isn’t bad. Some change redirects my path back to where it should have been all along. Some change restores what was lost. Some change forces me to grow, to trust, to open myself up to new challenges and opportunities.

I know I’m not alone in my doubts. As I speak to people, I hear again and again of their desire for comfort and stability. We like our vacations and new restaurants and shopping for new and better things. But we don’t want to risk too much. We don’t want to feel the earth shifting beneath our feet. We’d rather retain some sense of control, though that is cause for laughter. We are never, ever really in control.

Still, God is God and I trust Him. It is not a trust born of schoolgirl promises and declarations of faith. It has nothing to do with baptismal waters and years in church. It is a deep trust for the One who carried me when I was too broken and weak to take even one more step. It is in the valley where the roots of true faith sink deep in the unwavering promises of our Creator.

I’ve found there’s a huge difference between those of us who have endured deep grief and those who have been blessed with an easier road. Grief doesn’t always come from death. It can be triggered by so many things. But it does change each person who encounters it. Though we may reach the other side, we are never the same.

This year my word is change. I am afraid of it. But I trust God more than I fear what the year might bring. There is a time for everything. Apparently, this is my time for change.

January 1, 2019

A New Day

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” – Isaiah 43:19

“But you will not leave in haste or go in flight; for the LORD will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard.”

– Isaiah 52:12

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! – 2 Corinthians 5:17

What are your New Year’s resolutions? Did you giddily toast to your dreams? Are you determined to live differently this year? Did you make plans for good things?

Why do you think this year will be different than last year? Are you different? Are you more determined? Has life rocked you to the core and changed your direction?

We like to think of the first day of a new year as a new beginning. In many ways, it is. But it is only a new beginning if we are willing to make real changes in how we live our lives. Dreams are great but they don’t do anything unless we are willing to take action.

Sometimes we get so mired in the past that we lose our hope for today. We get so overwhelmed with where we are that we can’t seem to make ourselves take small steps toward who we want to be.

Our goals were so attainable in the giddiness of the New Year’s Eve celebration. We felt strong enough to conquer anything. And, maybe, for a day or two we bask in the glow of change.

The reality isn’t always so easy. There’s no way to lose weight without changing our eating habits and adding physical activity to our lives. No amount of dreaming or fad diet challenges will cause us to lose weight. We’ve got to actually step up and change.

The same is true with seeking a new job, changing relationships, living more determinedly for Christ. Jobs don’t happen without applications and networking. Relationships don’t change without time and effort. Living for Christ doesn’t happen without spending more time with Him and actually stepping up to serve.

Do you see the pattern? Are you willing to do the work necessary to live differently in 2019?

Don’t let the past overwhelm you. And don’t get caught up with how large that mountain looks. Every goal is reached by taking one step and then another. You don’t have to do it all at once. You simply must take one step toward it today.

Can you do that? Do you trust God enough to follow the dreams He’s planted deep inside of you? Can you move forward even when you quake in fear? Are you willing to follow the light?

God never leaves us alone. He never lets us to wander without reason. Seek His wisdom and move forward into the New Year. God has called you to great things but it’s up to you to take that first step.

November 2, 2018

Trust God

The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands. – Psalm 138:8

It was a normal day. He was up early, dropped the kids off at school, and headed to work. He had no idea it would be his last day at work. He had no warning of what was to come.

Another man talks about receiving the best evaluation he’d ever gotten at his job. That was in the morning. In the afternoon, he was let go.

A woman reminiscences about her days as a successful sales rep. She recounts the travel, the time away from her family, the cost of it all. And then the day came when her position was eliminated. She looked around to find all she had left was a severance package and a few memories.

We live in a world where we are defined by success in the workplace. Right or wrong, it’s just how it is. The question becomes do we buy into that? Do we believe how wonderful others say we are? Do we believe the sales figures make us better people? Do we think the sacrifices are worth it for the paycheck?

Whether we realize it or not, we’ve made an idol of our job. There’s certainly nothing wrong with enjoying your job and wanting to be good at it. The trouble comes when your job consumes your time, your energy, your everything.

It’s easy to slip into that mode. We sometimes spend more time with our co-workers than with our families. They become our reality, our priority. We tell ourselves we love our families more but, still, we sacrifice them for a job that demands no other mistress.

We’ve got our life out of order. That’s something that becomes abundantly clear when our job, our career, our livelihood, suddenly goes away.

The Bible is clear about priorities. Put God first. Put God above family and friends. Put God before job and church. Put God first. Love Him. Worship Him.

You might be asking why. I know. God says to do this but have you ever considered why? When we love God first, that helps us keep our priorities in the correct order. It helps us remember what’s important in life. It helps us remember that people, especially the ones we love, are more important than things.

Nothing in this life stays the same. We can pour ourselves into a career, only to have it snatched away at a moments notice. We can dedicate ourselves to a particular church, only to have it splinter over a disagreement. There are divorces, family feuds, broken friendships.

But there is One who stays the same. God. He never changes. He is our constant in a sometimes tumultuous world. He is our steady guide. God is the One who loves us no matter what because it’s not about us. It’s about Him.

God has a plan for your life and it’s a good plan. Trust Him. When things aren’t turning out the way you thought they would, trust God. Put Him first and trust that He will see you through whatever you are facing today.

October 24, 2018

Hold Tightly to Jesus

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. – Hebrews 13:8

Life is all about changes. The days may sometimes feel like they are covered in sameness but the reality is that change can send us reeling without a moment’s notice.

People can be so fickle. One day you’re surrounded by “friends,” secure in the knowledge that you have found your tribe. Then you find out that it was never about you but about what you could offer them. You’ve probably been there. People think the world of you until they no longer need you.

It hurts, doesn’t it? Even if you suspected all along, it still leaves a scar. You know in your mind that they’re the lesser for it, that they were never true friends, but for a moment in time you thought you might belong.

Have you ever thought you’d spend forever with someone only to see them walk away? It hurts, doesn’t it? There’s a deep core sadness, a lingering distrust. People make promises and break them all the time. You just never thought it would happen to you.

Maybe you poured your life into your career. You’ve worked hard. You thought you’d always have a job, always be secure. Until one day your company decided to downsize and you find out you’re one of the ones without a job. You devoted yourself to a company that didn’t care about you like you cared about it.

There are so many times in life when circumstances send us reeling. Sometimes it’s a catastrophic event, such as a death or a storm or a lingering illness. Other times it’s betrayal.

Betrayal comes in all forms. Sometimes it’s working hard on a project only to have your co-worker take all the credit. Sometimes it’s telling someone something in confidence only to have them tell everyone your secret. Sometimes it’s getting blamed for something you didn’t do and having people turn against you.

I am so thankful that Jesus never changes. He’s always the same. Honest. Trustworthy. Dependable. Jesus loves me with a love I can’t begin to comprehend. He loves you just the same.

Today there are people waking up to nothing but devastation. There are people walking around with broken hearts so shattered that no amount of glue can fix them. There are people who are sick and trying to forge ahead. There are people who have just buried a child, lost a parent, or gone through a divorce.

I saw a Facebook post that reminded people to be kind and show grace and mercy. Tempers can get short when our world has been destroyed. We lash out and that creates an avalanche of unintended consequences. Everyone is hurting in some way. Everyone has lost something or someone. Everyone faces things we can’t see.

Jesus sees. He knows. He offers us love and compassion with no limit. I don’t know what you’re going through today. But trust in Jesus. He is your rock when the world seems to be out of control. He is your everything when your world turns into rubble. Trust Him.

Jesus never changes. When you can’t hold on to anything else, when you can’t seem to find anyone you can trust, hold tightly to that. Hold tightly to Jesus.

September 4, 2018

Refined by Fire

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. – 1 Peter 1:6-7

Deepening your faith is a little bit like baking a cake. If you do it right, you’ll love the end result. If you do it wrong you’ll end up with a big mess.

Our recipe book is the Bible. It tells us exactly what to do in most any situation. Don’t let others tell you it isn’t relevant in today’s world. The only ones who say that are the ones who don’t read it. It’s amazing how many things we think of as being of this time are actually repeats of long ago.

Once you decide on a recipe, you have to make sure you’ve got all the ingredients. You need salvation, prayer, the fruit of the Spirit, an open heart (where you pour the “batter”), an open hand (to let go of things) and a willing Spirit (to be open to what God calls you to).

What do you do with all the ingredients? You mix them together. Do you sometimes get flour on the floor? Do you ever drip anything on the counter? Probably so. That’s how life is. We’re heading straight to where we believe God has called us to go and we’re making a mess along the way. And that’s okay. Fortunately, God never leaves us to navigate life on our own.

Does the cake always come out like you planned? Probably not. Sometimes you think something is going to taste wonderful and it just doesn’t. And sometimes you don’t have a lot of faith in what you’re baking but it turns out better than you could have imagined. That’s how it is when you follow Jesus. Things rarely turn out the way you planned but it’s amazing what happens when we turn it over to Him.

Of course, you’ve got to pour the batter into a pan and bake it. Heat turns the batter into something new, something wonderful to eat. It’s that way with our faith. Our faith isn’t about standing on the sidelines. It’s about getting into the game of life and trying.

How do you know when the cake is done? It smells good, doesn’t it? My Mother taught me to use a wooden toothpick to stick in the center. If it comes out clean, that means the cake is done. If not, the cake goes back into the oven.

I wonder if that’s what God does with us. We go through a trial and we reach the other side. If it has truly changed our hearts, we’re done. If it hasn’t, back into the fire we go. God is patient. He will send us back to the fire however many times it takes for us to become more like His Son.

When the cake is finally done, does it resemble the batter you put into the oven? No. The ingredients are the same but the cake looks and tastes different, doesn’t it? Just like we’re different after we’ve been through the fire.

What changes? Maybe we’re a little more compassionate. Maybe we have more confidence that God truly is in control and everything will be okay. Maybe we’re a little kinder. Maybe we have more mercy for those who don’t quite meet our standards.

Of course, the fire destroys some people. Their hearts harden and they turn away from God. They failed to understand that bad is part of life and the only thing, the only One, who can carry us and turn it to good is Jesus.

Have you been through the fire? Did you come out changed for the better or for the worse? Think about it.

July 16, 2018

How Have You Changed?

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! – 2 Corinthians 5:17

Most of us don’t like change, do we? Oh, we say we like to try new things but mostly we simply want to stay in our own little worlds, with our family, friends and toys. We want an easy life without static or drama.

Except we do change when the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us. We become a different person. Or we should. It’s one of the signs that we are truly saved.

God doesn’t want us to always be the same. He wants us to continually grow closer to Him. His goal is that we will become more like Christ and less like the world. He wants us to give up ourselves to become the people He created us to be.

And we resist. Again and again we resist. Because we want to control our own lives. We want to do what we want to do, when we want to do it. We want God when it comes to the hard stuff, the things we can’t control, things like cancer and wayward children and unexpected job loss. But the rest we want to control ourselves.

God doesn’t work that way. Sometimes He will break us in order to mold us into a new creation dedicated to serving Him. It doesn’t have to be like that, of course. God sends us signals, directions, guidelines. It’s when he’s trying to get our attention and we ignore Him that things can get bad quickly.

God doesn’t want us to be comfortable and content with where we are. We are all called to service. We are all called to spread His message of love and hope. We can’t do that when we’re sitting in our recliner letting television or games numb our minds.

What does God want from you? A willing spirit. A heart dedicated to Him. An open mind willing to step forward in faith. Even when the step is uncomfortable. Maybe, especially, when the step is uncomfortable.

How many blessings do we miss because we refused to trust the God who created us? How many people have suffered because we refused to open our minds and our hearts to share with them what God has placed on our hearts?

We all have to carry a load. It’s not about us. Simple words. Trite, even. Words we would rather ignore. We want it all to be about us. Or, at least, about our children, our job, our pleasure. We don’t want to serve people we’d rather ignore.

Ah, yes. We want to stay around people like us. We want to choose whom we serve. We want to give on our terms, not God’s terms. Because sometimes God calls us to step out of our comfort zone and actually get dirty, get our hearts broken, stir up something we’d rather leave alone.

We weren’t meant to come to Jesus, be filled with the Holy Spirit, and remain the same. We want all the benefits of salvation without expressing any of the gratitude. Because that’s what doing God’s will is: Expressing gratitude and love for all He has done for us.

Life isn’t about staying the same. It’s about walking in faith. It’s about doing the hard things because that’s the journey God called us to. It’s about loving the unlovable, giving without reserve, showing up when we’d rather not. It’s about sharing Him in all we say and do. Anything less is just an empty life.

July 6, 2018

Are You Ready?

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

– 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

The sound shattered the morning stillness. I turned in time to see rubber flying and a sleek sports car jerking first one way and then another as the driver tried desperately to control it. A blown tire, successful efforts to keep the car from rolling and then a crash into the side of the store.

It was over in seconds. That’s exactly how long it takes for your life to change course forever.

Miracles happened. The normally busy intersection was void in that moment of other vehicles. The crowded store just happened to have no one parked on the side where the car hit. The wall of the store held up, smashing the front of the car but not allowing it to enter the building where unsuspecting shoppers went about their day.

No one died. We are thankful. Injuries can heal. Cars can be repaired or replaced. Another day will dawn. There is still time.

But what if the end result had been different? What if you had been the one driving? What if those seconds were your last on this earth? Are you ready? Are you sure?

We always think we have more time. We always believe that horrible things happen to someone else. We always plan like tomorrow is a guarantee. Until it isn’t.

Paul warned the Corinthians that all could change in an instant. That’s how Christ will return. There won’t be a warning. Two will be at work and one will be taken and one will remain. There won’t be time to get right with God, to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, to change behavior, hearts, and minds.

This letter contained so much wisdom. Paul tells us that love is patient and kind. He warns against the division amongst themselves. They were so busy fighting each other that they were missing the point. They were missing Christ.

It sounds a lot like Christians today. We are so busy pointing fingers at other Christians, spewing hatred toward others, and protecting our “rights,” that we miss the common core. We miss Jesus.

God knows your heart. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how many times you quote the Bible if you don’t live it from your heart. It doesn’t matter how earnest your prayers if your only goal is to mold His will to your own. And it doesn’t matter how much you value yourself if you look down on the broken, the lost, the hurting, and refuse to help.

The church in Corinth didn’t survive. Will we?

July 5, 2018

Change Begins With You

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. – Romans 12:21

Another day. Another shooting. Five killed. More wounded. Still others forever traumatized by the evil that turned a normal day into a terror-filled nightmare.

Perhaps what is so disturbing – beyond the obvious – is that everyone saw it coming and yet no one could legally stop it. The same laws designed to protect the innocent also protect those who haven’t yet crossed the line but someday will.

Evil lives in the hearts of some. Yes, there is mental illness involved. But never mistake depression and such for evil intent. Some hearts seek to control, to terrorize, to kill and destroy all those they believe have “harmed” them. Some simply want to make a statement, to be noticed and remembered for something horrible.

What has caused the increase in mass shootings? What do we do to stop it? And how do we live without becoming hard and uncaring?

Where is hope in the middle of it all? In Jesus. We complain about people taking Him out of the government and the schools and other public places. It’s all true. But the main area from which we’ve removed Him? Our homes and our daily lives.

It’s so easy to point fingers. Let’s blame the mental health professionals. Let’s blame law enforcement. Let’s condemn Congress for not passing adequate laws. But the simple and sad truth is that the blame begins with us.

It seems that so few people really live the faith they claim. We aren’t teaching our children right from wrong because, well, we’ve blurred the line so well that we really don’t know anymore. Children learn from watching the adults around them. What are they seeing?

Do they see adults who lend a hand – even when they won’t get anything in return? Do they see adults giving generously – with no thought of reward on this earth? Do they see adults reading their Bibles and praying beyond the “standard” prayers – with no thought to impressing others? Do they see adults viewing church as a privilege and honor to worship God – or as a box that must be checked when it fits into their schedule?

Then let’s look at the mental health issues we all face. The stigma remains. We aren’t treating those who are in desperate need. There aren’t enough treatment facilities for our youth. There isn’t enough insurance coverage to handle issues before they reach the violent stage.

And there aren’t enough laws to allow law enforcement and medical professionals to deal with people they know are mentally ill. It’s a fine line. I understand that. It’s an imperfect balance of rights and common sense. When law enforcement sees someone who is an obvious threat to someone else, they shouldn’t have to wait for the inevitable violence to do something. Yet that’s almost always the case.

There are no easy answers. It’s not a one-size-fits-all scenario. But the solution starts with us. Be kind to people. Be generous. Get out of your clique and see those in the margins. Live like Jesus. Get uncomfortable. And stop pointing fingers. You’re just spreading the hate you claim to despise. We’re all broken. Humble yourself and recognize that we are all in desperate need of a Savior. Share His love with everyone. That’s where real change begins.

July 1, 2018

Which One Are You?

“The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop – some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.” – Mark 4:14-20

Glance around the congregation at your church. What do you see? There are those who show up on Sunday when it’s convenient. There are those who are faithful, welcoming the pastor’s words and enjoying the service. And there are those who take those words to heart and then go into the world to share what they’ve learned.

Which are you? Are you a pew sitter who goes to church because you are a “Christian”? Some people are raised with the label and they know how to behave. They know the rules. In their world, people go to church. They are affiliated with a building. It’s necessary for weddings and funerals, for baptisms and forms.

They know exactly what to say when asked but, well, there’s nothing about their heart that indicates they truly know Christ. Memorizing answers to salvation questions doesn’t mean you are saved. They miss that somehow in their eagerness to do their duty, then get on with real life.

Maybe you’re one of those who come to services and listen intently to the pastor. You soak up his words with all you’ve got. You can name many people who need to heed the words spoken from the Bible. Unfortunately, you’re not one of those people.

Real life has no place for faith. You’ve got too much to do. There are bills to be paid, workplace politics to navigate, and issues that God just can’t help you with. You love Jesus. You do. But this is 2018 and times have changed from those days when Jesus taught His disciples and healed people everywhere He went.

There is joy in church. Sometimes you even feel hope. But real life quickly drowns it out and you go back to how you’ve always lived, facing life’s burdens alone and trying to “win” at all costs.

Maybe you’re one of the fortunate few who actually soaks God’s Word in. Maybe you actually believe His promises and build your life on His foundation. Look around. There are others like you but the workers are few and the harvest is plentiful.

There is a light about those who truly believe in the power of the cross. It doesn’t mean life is always easy. It isn’t. But it does mean you’ll never walk alone. It means that miracles happen. It means that Satan has already been defeated and you are just a traveler on your way home.

Spread that news everywhere you go. Let others look at you and see peace and joy, comfort and wisdom. Let them seek what you’ve got. Give Jesus credit and encourage them to get to know Him as Lord and Savior.

There are many different kinds of people who show up for church on Sunday morning. But they all hear differently. Be the one who soaks it in and then goes on to share it.

June 11, 2018

Don’t Be Afraid in the Storm

He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. – Matthew 8:26

Sometimes life throws us a curveball. Just when we think that everything is going along smoothly, something happens that sends everything into a tailspin. It changes you. Forever.

There is comfort in a predictable life. There is security in knowing how each day will unfold. There is an easiness to following a known path. But we don’t grow in the predictable and the easy.

We grow when the diagnosis is hard and we aren’t sure of the outcome. We grow when someone else’s choice takes away what we always thought we could count on. We grow when our world suddenly becomes different than what we’d planned.

We can gain our strength from Christ. Or we can wallow in a hole that can only lead to sin and more heartbreak.

It’s terrifying to face the struggle. Surely, we can just stand still and weather the storm? Except we weren’t made to always stay the same. Our testimony comes when we step out into the unknown, clasping tightly to our Savior’s hand.

Our lives were never meant to be comfortable. We somehow miss that lesson as we go about our days. We forget that Jesus’ early disciples suffered for their faith. It would have been far easier to go along with the world, to remain silent, to stand aside and let others tell them what to do. But they weren’t called to that and neither are we.

That doesn’t mean we all must cast aside our fear and head to a Third World Country and become missionaries. Some people are called to that. Others are not. Some of us are called to serve right where we are. But we are all called to serve. We miss that somehow as we go about our comfortable, self-involved lives.

Until the storm hits. And it always comes. Something happens to change our comfortable journey and we are left struggling. We cry out. He is there. He was always there. We were just too busy holding on to our what we knew to realize how desperately we needed Him.

Can the world see the difference in how we handle situations and how unbelievers handle the same situations? Do they see our faith? Do they see the anchor that calms the boat even in the midst of the storm?

Our lives are meant to direct people to Jesus. We are meant to bring honor and glory to God. The Holy Spirit is our guide but we have a choice as to whether we follow His promptings or go a different way.

Choices. Which treatment is the best? How can we remain silent when the lies surround us? Can we really rebuild a life someone else tore down? And where is Jesus in the midst of it all?

Right beside you. He’s right there. He will never leave you or forsake you. He promised and Jesus always keeps His promises. In the trying moments of this unpredictable world, Jesus is our constant help and strength. He rejoices with us during the good times and He carries us during the bad. Don’t be afraid. He’s got you.

May 21, 2018

Be Open To Change

“Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.” – Luke 20:46-47

Th Pharisees were something else, weren’t they? They probably meant well. They studied hard to know all the rules. Hadn’t they earned the right to look down on others? Shouldn’t others think as highly of them as they thought of themselves?

No matter how many times they claimed the law came from God, it was their own manmade rules that governed them. It was one reason they disliked Jesus so much. Our Savior came to shake things up, to challenge the norm, to point people back to God Almighty.

That threatened the Pharisees. They liked things the way they were. They were in charge and they were comfortable with that. They planned to do everything they could – including killing Jesus – to keep their rules and their control firmly in place.

We would never be that rigid. Would we? We would never turn away from something good just because it didn’t come from us. Would we? We would never let our own pride cause us to do something wrong. Would we?

Sometimes I think churches are the absolute worst when it comes to change. I’m not talking theology here. God’s Word speaks truth. Always.

No, I’m talking about how we do things around the church. It can be criticizing contemporary versus traditional music. It might be following the Sunday school curriculum verses current topics from outside sources. And it can be something so simple as how we organize a program.

We get so caught up in how it has always been done that we miss the opportunity to open our hearts to what might be. I’ve watched churches die because the older members, the ones who had devoted their lives to that church, wouldn’t change anything to welcome younger people into their fold. We all know that our faith’s future lies with the children, with their parents, with those who come behind us.

I’ve seen huge fights over the order of a program, when a video should be aired, and how tables are decorated. Really. Because when we start making suggestions, when people start pushing for change, there is a natural inclination to push back. We don’t really like change, do we? But comfortable places aren’t always where we’re supposed to be.

We’ve been having some discussions at our church about trying a few new things. Will they work? Will we see success and reach new people? Will more people become involved, truly invested in our church? We don’t know. We can only pray for the Spirit’s guidance and work hard. The rest is up to God.

I’m not really sure how these new programs will be received. Nothing has changed or likely will change. We’re just adding on, as the saying goes. We’re opening up new opportunities. But here’s the thing: We really need everyone to help and support us. What’s a generational dinner without all the generations represented? What’s a new Bible study without a diverse group to participate?

Don’t let fear of change hold you back from giving something a try. Don’t cling so tightly to your perceived power that you miss out on a wonderful opportunity from God. And don’t get so uptight with how it’s always been done that you push away the younger generation who are eager to help and to learn.

It really isn’t about us. It isn’t about rules and the way things have always been done. It’s about a Savior and a King. It’s about service and sacrifice. It’s about God’s love for us and how we’re supposed to love others. Give change a chance. You might be amazed at what God can do with an open heart.