December 30, 2018

Where Were You Today?

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching. – Hebrews 10:24-25

Once again they’d taken the boat and gone fishing. It was Sunday. She and her husband, their kids and their friends were all on the lake. It was a fun day.

They just felt so close to God on the lake, she explained. It was no different than being in church, she rationalized. They were enjoying God’s creation. It was all good.

Except it wasn’t.

Attending services on Sunday morning is about worshipping God. It’s about remembering who He is and all that He’s done for us. We pause and remember to praise God for all things.

Going out on the boat with friends and family for a day of fishing is all about us. It’s about enjoying ourselves. Sure, we’re enjoying God’s creation but it’s not about Him. It’s all about us. And that’s the difference between going to church and going to the lake.

I could substitute any number of activities for fishing on the lake. The beach is also a popular place for a Sunday trip. And we deserve to sleep in at least once a week. Doesn’t a lazy day watching movies sound good? We’re supposed to rest. Surely, God understands.

Do we understand when God delays in answering our requests? Do we make excuses when He says no? Do we believe that God is much, much more than a vending machine whose sole purpose is to grant our every wish?

It’s not about us. Oh, we know that. Except we don’t always act as though we believe it. We don’t live as though we believe it.

I’m all about having fun and enjoying life. God wants that for us too. But there has to be a balance. God must come first. Always. Because when you put the desires of the flesh before the worship of our Creator, your heart slowly turns away from God. He becomes an option and, well, options get moved further and further away from priorities.

What did you do today? Our services, and those at other area churches, had extremely low attendance. People are tired. People are traveling. People are otherwise occupied. Jesus’ birthday has come and gone and we’re back to normal.  Self is first. God is a distant option somewhere down the line.

The body of Christ is to gather regularly, to worship God and to encourage one another in our faith walk. When church attendance becomes an option, we’ve lost sight of our purpose.

December 27, 2018

Honor the Sabbath

“Also I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between us, so they would know that I the LORD made them holy.” – Ezekiel 20:12

“because they rejected my laws and did not follow my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths. For their hearts were devoted to their idols.” – Ezekiel 20:16

“You have despised my holy things and desecrated my Sabbaths.” – Ezekiel 22:8

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns.” – Exodus 20:8-10

How do you spend your Sabbath day? For most Christians, we have set apart Sunday for that day. But do you set it apart for God?

I know. There’s lots of reasons that doesn’t happen in your life. Some people work to feed their families and pay bills. Some people work to provide for the rest of us. These include doctors and hospital staff, police officers and fire fighters. But what about the rest of us?

In the area in which I live, baseball is huge. There are night games during the week. Saturdays are filled with ball games. And, increasingly, Sunday too is occupied with baseball.

Now, I love baseball. I do. But when it comes to kids and families I sometimes wonder if we’ve misplaced our priorities.

We talk a lot about putting God back into our schools and government. We’re adamant about our beliefs when it comes to what the Bible says about controversial subjects. But it’s difficult not to see the hypocrisy when it comes to how we view the Sabbath.

One parent explained that he always led a devotional for the players and coaches before the Sunday games. Besides, he continued, the kids enjoy playing so it’s not really work. My question was this: When do they rest? The hard truth he couldn’t deny is that they don’t rest.

We have become a land of busy people seeking God in all the wrong places. We make excuses when it’s something we want to do and we condemn others for doing what we think they shouldn’t do. We ignore God’s clear laws in order to chase after idols.

Please don’t try and tell me that baseball isn’t an idol. Anything – baseball, money, job, fishing, yard work – that comes before God is an idol. When you choose to ignore the Sabbath, you choose to ignore God.

Everyone needs a day of rest, whether that day is Sunday or another day of the week. We need a chance to recharge and to remember God and all that He does for us. We need time to refocus our priorities back on our Creator. It is from Him that we draw our strength, gain our wisdom, and live according to His calling on our lives.

So, what are you doing on Sunday? If the answer doesn’t involve worshipping God, you need to rethink your faith.

November 23, 2018

Priorities

We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it. – Psalm 39:6

The lines started early yesterday morning. People skipped turkey and fellowship for the chance at a bargain. Last night was the same. This morning people rushed out before dawn to snatch up a good price on gifts and items for themselves.

Come Sunday, people will be too tired to attend church. They’ll moan and pull the covers up. Church comes too early, they’ll complain. It’s just too much effort to get dressed and go. Maybe next Sunday. Or the next. Or maybe they’ll just wait for Christmas Eve. Surely God will understand.

It’s all about priorities. Shopping, whether for gifts or for ourselves, has become more important than God. It’s okay to get defensive when you read that. The truth doesn’t always feel good.

Christmas is no longer about a babe in a manager. It has nothing much to do with Jesus’ birth and everything to do with retail sales. We’ve lost sight of what’s important. We celebrate ourselves and our pocketbooks. We forget it’s not our birthday. We forget that it’s not about us.

Or, maybe, we just don’t care. We are self-involved to the point that we don’t care what others think or say. We don’t care about what God wants from us. We’ll do what we want, spend our money the way we choose, and, well, if there’s anything left over maybe we’ll send it God’s way.

We fill our lives with stuff we don’t need in a vain effort to fill ourselves up with peace and contentment. It will never work but it doesn’t stop us from trying again and again. If we just have a little more, if we just get one more thing or make more money, then we’ll be happy where we are. Except we’ll never be happy because we’re chasing the wrong thing.

We’re so busy making plans and rushing through life that we forget what’s important. A sweet friend spent a different kind of Thanksgiving yesterday. Oh, there was lots of food and plenty of guests. But she’s no longer interested in the Black Friday sales and the thrill of the bargain hunt. What changed? Her husband died unexpectantly three months ago. There’s nothing quite like sudden death to rearrange your priorities.

There’s nothing wrong with a bargain. I like them myself. And there’s certainly nothing wrong with treating yourself to something wonderful or buying gifts for those you love. It’s when that becomes all-consuming, when you forget to be thankful, when you fail to acknowledge that it all comes from God, that your shopping becomes an idol you worship.

When life ceases to be about God, you’re headed in the wrong direction. When you find yourself making excuses for not spending time with Him, you’re focusing the wrong way. Put God first. Put people second. And place everything else a distant third.

Life is all about priorities. Your actions reveal what those priorities are. What do your actions say about your priorities? Think about it.

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 20, 2018

Priorities

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

A month ago, their priorities were different. We live in a world filled with college football and lazy days at the beach. Our lives revolve around high school sports and band, little league and soccer and dance. Work and errands and the daily busyness of life rush us along at a rapid pace.

And then the unthinkable happens and our priorities shift forever. It could be a death. It could be a job loss. It could be a major hurricane that destroys your world. And suddenly what you thought was important turns out to be unimportant after all.

We are a people who like to complain about what we don’t have. We are goal-oriented folks who are always striving for the next achievement, the next possession, the next thing we think will make us happy. We’re so focused on future possibilities that we miss today’s blessings.

Oh, we’ve always heard people tell us that. “Stop and smell the roses,” they say. “Count your blessings,” others add. We know it’s all true but we don’t actually do any of it. Until we’ve got nothing left.

Today someone’s priority was finding a place to live. Another person’s priority was diapers for their baby or how their child will get an education when all the schools are destroyed. Another person wonders how he’ll survive without his spouse. One person struggles to find a job, any job, just to keep a roof over his family’s head and food on the table.

Priorities. It all depends on where you’re at in any given moment.

One woman complained that her husband’s business was down and she just didn’t know how they were going to afford things. Really? It’s difficult to have sympathy for someone who lives in an affluent neighborhood, always drives a new car, eats out several times a week and doesn’t work. Her priority is maintaining her lifestyle. She’s never done without, she’s never truly suffered, so her priorities are different from those who have known those things.

There’s a good side to horrible things. Your priorities shift and you come to understand what really matters. Do you remember how Jesus told Martha, who was bustling around preparing a meal, that Mary knew what was really important? Why don’t we realize He was talking to us too?

Spending time with God each day should be our priority. It’s the most important time of our day. And, yet, we act as though everything else is more important.

We always plan to spend more time with people we love. We vow to volunteer one day. Maybe we’ve got a list of things we’d like to do. One day. Why not today?

What would happen if you gave up a Saturday and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity to help build a house? What would happen if you invited an elderly neighbor over to your home for a meal? What would happen if you turned off your phone and went outside and played with your kids?

Be present today. Put God first and the people He loves right after that. Take time to laugh. Be grateful for the small things. Smile often. Be kind. This world can be hard and cruel. Be the light. Show the world what really matters.

October 14, 2018

It’s All About Perspective

All the believers were together and had everything in common. – Acts 2:44

People met today to worship God. For some, it was another routine Sunday. They gathered in their sanctuaries and other buildings to sing and hear a sermon. Some complained about the temperature. Others noted the loudness of the music or the appropriateness of the pastor’s message.

There was another group of people who met today to worship God. They gathered outside, bringing their own chairs to sit in. The only music was what came from their voices. They listened intently to the pastor’s voice, desperate for a word of hope and thanksgiving.

They met outside because Hurricane Michael had ravaged the sanctuaries of the churches they once attended. They brought their own chairs, or sat on the ground, because there was nowhere else to sit. They weren’t concerned about how loud the music might be or how long the sermon went.

Priorities shift when the life you once knew is gone forever. They came today to hear that God always keeps His promises. God promises to turn bad into good if we’ll just hand it over to Him. God promises to never leave us. God promises to sustain us, to give us strength and courage, to show us the way.

God always keeps His promises. That’s what they were holding tightly to today.

The “church” in our world today means a building that houses worship services. But, actually, the church is the body of believers. It’s you and me. We are the church.

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. – Ephesians 2:19-21

We get so caught up in comfort and control and things that really don’t matter. Sometimes it takes losing everything to refocus our lives on what’s important.

A dear woman posted today that it finally occurred to her that while she was whining about being without power, others have lost everything. It’s not just that their home and possessions are gone. They don’t have jobs anymore because their employer is gone too. She finally understood that while she was focused on her own discomfort, there was people who would give anything if electricity was all they were missing.

It’s all about focus, isn’t it? It comes down to what is truly important. People are important. Stuff, well, it can vanish quickly in the face of 150 mph winds.

Today people gathered to thank God for their lives. They thanked Him for volunteers and bottled water and so many other blessings. And they asked for courage as they cling to hope that one day this will all be a distant nightmare.

September 14, 2018

Reshape Your Priorities

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. – Proverbs 27:1

The sound of chopper blades filled the silent night. The helicopter landed on the football field as fans, players, coaches, medics, all looked on. There’s something about it that puts a high school football game in its proper perspective.

We don’t know what tomorrow might bring. We tell ourselves that. But do we really believe it? And, more importantly, do we live like we believe it?

I wasn’t at that high school game tonight. The game was between two teams nearby. Small schools. You know the kind. Everyone knows everyone else. Nothing truly bad is supposed to happen.

A friend posted photos and, then, videos of the helicopter landing and taking off. We’ve had no news yet about the player. We can only imagine his family’s anguish. We hurt for the other players and coaches. We pray fervently for a young man to please be alright.

I know about sudden changes. I understand how one minute everything is right in your world and in the next life has changed forever. I have felt that earth-shattering moment that you come to think of as a dividing line between before and after.

We are so focused on being in charge of our own lives. We make plans like we really know what’s going to happen. We act as though our life events are more important than, well, almost anything. Until something happens and we refocus on what’s really important.

Jesus. He’s what matters. Do you know Him? Do you serve Him? Or do you serve yourself and your own agenda?

Don’t make excuses. I’m not calling you out but I do want you to squirm. I want you to think about your days, your priorities, your values. How many times do you put off doing things for Jesus because you’ve got something “better” to do? How many times do you make excuses such as time, energy, money?

I pray that young man will be okay. I pray he will heal quickly and completely, with no lasting impact from tonight. And I pray that this opened the eyes and hearts of those who witnessed it. We don’t always have the time we think we have.

So, make your plans with loose fingers. Leave room for Jesus. He has a way of showing up when you least expect Him.

Update: The player has a sprained spine. No breaks. He should be okay. Thank you for your prayers.

June 23, 2018

What Really Matters?

“What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”

– Mark 8:36

It’s the little things that get us. We don’t plan to commit murder. We don’t plan to rob a bank. We don’t plan to ever deny Jesus.

But, well, we don’t have a problem with hate when someone has done us wrong. And we understand anger and revenge when someone “deserves” our wrath.

We work hard for what we have and we keep it for ourselves. We “need” so many things – a new car, a long vacation, several nights eating out. We might not be able to tithe – money’s tight you know – but we can take care of ourselves.

We would never deny Jesus, not officially anyway. But we don’t have time to help the poor and the elderly. We can’t offer ourselves up as sacrifices. There’s barely enough hours in the day to get done the things we must get done – job, kid’s activities, socializing, household chores.

We try to show up for church on Sunday. Sometimes we’re just too tired or we need a mini-vacation to the beach or mountains. God understands, we tell ourselves. We try to volunteer. Okay. Maybe only when it something that directly benefits us or our children. Let someone else care for those who are alone or have long-term needs.

We pray most days. It might just be a quick moment before bed or a muttering before we head off to work. There’s just no time for serious Bible study or true alone time with God. He understands the demands of our lives. God loves us anyway. He knows we’ll get around to it one day.

What if one day never comes? What if today is your last day on earth? What if your child gets cancer and everything you thought was important suddenly isn’t? What if life knocks you to the ground and you find yourself in quicksand?

The Bible tells us to build our lives on the rock of faith. We are to nourish our roots so that they grow strong and deep in the fertile soil of faith. We aren’t to wait until desperation hits. We’re to do it now, before we hit the wall.

How many of us do that? How many of us attend church occasionally and call ourselves good? How many of us do the minimum and think we’re covered for whatever might come? And how many of us truly know that we are one moment away from a life-changing event?

We somehow think we are insulated from the truly bad. We work hard. We’re believers. We are. Well, maybe we don’t always live like it. We like to have fun and, well, we’re just so busy.

Just remember this: Possessions won’t hold you up when the world tears you apart. Good intentions won’t carry you when you’re in need and the world has better things to do. And faith that isn’t nourished when life is good won’t sustain you when everything you thought you knew is gone.

You may end up with the whole world but what about your soul? When the day is done and you are heading home, will you finally realize that Jesus really was all that mattered after all?

June 19, 2018

Life Isn’t Guaranteed

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.

– Proverbs 27:1

Three people died yesterday morning. Three others are hospitalized, one in critical condition. They were just living their lives, traveling down a highway. Two vehicles hit head on and, in that instant, lives were forever changed.

We make plans as though tomorrow is a sure thing. We collect stuff and maneuver our lives to gain power and prestige and money. We get so busy living the lives of our choosing that we lose sight of the most important thing: This world isn’t our home. We won’t be here forever.

The highway was closed for a while. People were scrambling to find alternate routes. It is a well-traveled road. The closure was a major inconvenience. No one wanted to mention that. It seemed too ugly to think about self when people had died.

I wonder how many people who said they would pray for those involved, for the families and friends, for all the emergency responders, actually did pray? Do we fully realize the impact of what happened? Do we even care? It wasn’t someone we knew so we move on with our lives while theirs lay shattered where dreams and plans once lived.

Priorities shift when your life implodes. You either draw closer to Jesus or you slide down a steep slope with the devil. It’s impossible to go through trauma without it changing the core of who you are.

Some people become furious at God. We expect His protection over our own lives and the lives of those we care about. We believe somewhere deep inside that we are immune from such happenings. We’re good people, good Christians. It’s not supposed to happen to us. Until it does.

None of us are immune to tragedy. We live in a fallen world where people make bad choices. We live in a darkness that clouds the vision of people who believe they can see when they can’t. Sometimes God protects us. Most of the time He stays clear, allowing us and others to make choices that sometimes bring great heartache.

Illness, disease, unhealthy lifestyles were never part of God’s plan. Adam and Eve sent us all on a path of destruction. For those of us who believe in the resurrected Christ, there is hope. There is eternal life with Him. There is a place with no more tears. But we aren’t there yet. We’re still traveling through a broken world.

God is with us. He promised to never leave us or forsake us. He promised to bring good from every bad thing if we will just turn it over to Him. We can lean on His strength or we can face the struggle alone. One way leads to healing and the other to destruction. It’s our choice.

I don’t know if those involved in that wreck knew Jesus. I hope so. Life is short and uncertain. Don’t wait to dedicate your life to Him. Don’t wait to look toward home and live accordingly. We make lots of plans but the truth is we don’t know how long we’ll be here. Live your life fully, placing Christ at the center of it all. Be ready when He calls you home.

June 9, 2018

What Are Your Priorities?

“Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” – Matthew 6:21

What is an idol? The dictionary says it’s who or what you love, reverence or admire above all else. We know that God doesn’t tolerate idolatry. He said to put no one above Him. But we do it all the time.

In this teaching, Jesus admonishes us not to store up treasures on earth. He told us to focus on heaven. That’s where the real treasure is. But, well, there’s just so many awesome things on this earth and we don’t want to miss out.

Sometimes our idol is an object. It can be a house, a car, a phone. It can be a job, a volunteer organization, a ministry. And it can be a child, a spouse, a friend. It is anything or anyone we put before God.

People are quick to tell me I don’t understand because I don’t have children. They’re right to some degree, just as they don’t understand what it’s like to not have something you once desperately wanted.

But I do understand this: God loves your children more than you could ever love them. God is love. And no matter how hard you try to protect and guide them, you are human and you will sometimes fail. Can you put God first and place what you love the most in God’s hand? Can you trust His love for them?

Sometimes we cherish treasures that will never fill us up. Have you ever had lunch with a friend or family member that repeatedly responded to texts or checks Facebook while you are trying to have a conversation. You don’t feel valued, do you? You may even do the same thing to others. It sure cuts down on the personal connection, doesn’t it? It really lets us know how valuable they find us or how valuable we find them.

Do you know someone who has sacrificed everything, including their family, for a job or a house or a volunteer organization? What matters most is what shows up in how you spend your time. In other words, don’t tell me you care. Show me with your time and attention. What is your priority?

It’s the same with how we see God. Do we view church as a chore or do we see it as a glorious opportunity to worship God Almighty with other believers? Do we spend undivided attention getting to know Him or do we put that off for another day? Do we place our relationship with God above all other relationships or do we try to fit Him in when it’s convenient?

Stop for a moment and consider your thoughts, your words, your actions. If someone looked your way, would they see Jesus in you? Would they know without your loudly proclaiming it that you value Him above all else? Priorities show in how we live our lives. Make sure that yours show others the light of Christ.

May 8, 2018

Seek God First

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” – Matthew 6:33

Life gets overwhelming sometimes, doesn’t it? There are so many demands on our time, our resources, our minds. Sometimes I’m tempted to throw up my hands and shout, “I’m done!” and go hibernate for a while. Do you know what I mean?

Those who are in ministry talk about Satan’s attacks when they are stepping forward into God’s calling. Do you want to lead a Bible study? Expect an attack. Do you feel called to start a new outreach program? Expect an attack. Are you stepping out in faith toward God’s calling? Expect an attack.

Yes. We know Satan prowls around looking for ways to push our buttons. And we know that he will attack us and try to derail anything we are attempting to do for God’s glory. But expecting that attack and living through it? That’s tough.

We know to resist the devil and he will flee from us. We understand that we must wear the armor of God at all times. But some days, when we are battered and bruised, it just feels overwhelming.

That’s when it’s time to refocus and regroup. What’s most important? Seek God’s kingdom first and everything else will fall into place. I just had that conversation with someone yesterday. My prayer is that the wayward child – now an adult – will once again place Jesus as the center of her world. If that happens, wise choices will result and the prodigal child will return. It’s that simple and that hard.

In my own life, I am pulled in many directions. There is always work to be done, people and animals who are counting on me, responsibilities that can seem too much to bear. But I don’t face them alone. God is with me, guiding me and teaching me. He sends helpers when I need them. He gives direction when I need it. God surrounds me with His love and care.

A number of years ago I had someone ask what time I had gotten up. We were headed out on an early morning work trip. That person was astounded that I got up early enough to spend time with God before we left. I was astounded that he would think I would do anything else.

“How can I ask for God’s protection when I don’t make time for Him,” I asked. “How can I know what He wants if I don’t meet with Him and ask? How can I expect strength to resist temptations if I don’t spend time in His Word?”

And, yet, when we are busy, overwhelmed, filled with stress and worry, what is one of the first things we give up? Time with God. The thing we need most. Can you see Satan’s hand in that?

If there’s one thing Satan knows, it’s that he needs to pull us away from Almighty God. It’s the only way his attacks will work. Satan understands the power of the cross and the One who lives inside of us. The question then becomes: Do we understand?

Every season of life comes with challenges and difficulties, right along with blessings and joy. Find your strength in the One who controls it all.

April 20, 2016

Be A Prayer Warrior

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. -- James 5:16

My Great Aunt Murl was a prayer warrior long before it was a popular term. It wasn’t something she shouted from the roof tops. It was just something that she did.

It was also something we all counted on. When she died, her daughter asked “Who will pray for us now?” Her eyes were haunted as she said it. The void was huge and it seemed impossible to fill.

I hugged her and told her “We’ll pray for each other.” And we did. Her daughter went Home more than a year ago. She became a prayer warrior before she left us.

Aunt Murl’s life was filled with children and grandchildren. It was filled with a large extended family. She was next to the youngest of 13 children and they were all close. She stayed with the elderly. She rarely missed anything at church.

She was a busy woman but she was never too busy to listen. Or to laugh. Or to cook a meal to share with someone else.

She didn’t have time for television. She wouldn’t watch it. “Why would I watch TV when I could be talking to God,” she’d say. Maybe that’s why I have no patience with people who know all the latest television shows but don’t have time to read their Bible.

It’s all about priorities and Aunt Murl’s priority was God and then people. It was simple to her. I sure wish it could be as simple to the rest of us.

When a new pastor came to her lifelong church, he went to visit those in the nursing home. He said he had to wait when he got to her room because she was praying. “I came to be a blessing to her,” he said later. “But she was a blessing to me.” She was a blessing to everyone who knew her.

Our church, like many churches, has a prayer team that meets weekly. They also communicate through the week for any prayer requests that come in. It is just so comforting to know that they are praying for us, offering up specific petitions, for help and healing and guidance.

Who are you praying for today? I know. Yourself. Your family. Your close friends maybe. Who else? Are you praying for your neighbor who doesn’t know Jesus? Are you praying for the sick co-worker you really don’t know?

Be a prayer warrior. Be someone others can count on to pray for them. Your prayers make a difference. Really. So pray. Just pray.

April 14, 2016

Prioritize God

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”

-- Psalm 46:10

Our world has gotten so crazy. We’re always busy, running to catch up to a place that can never be our destination. Why? Because by the time we get there, it will have moved.

Yesterday I had a long conversation with a dear friend. We did it by texting. The conversation lasted over an hour, though we did have breaks. We could have talked and said the same things in 10 minutes. Or, at least, we could have once upon a time.

She has ALS. You’ve probably heard of it. The disease is sometimes called Lou Gehrig’s disease, after the baseball player. It is a cruel disease that manifests itself different ways with different people. In her case, she has lost the ability to speak and swallow food.

There is good in slowing down, in savoring a conversation with a dear friend. In cherishing the moments that one day won’t come. So why do we wait until life forces us to slow down to savor it?

I’ve been told by more than one cancer survivor that it ended up being the best thing that ever happened to them. Why? It reordered their priorities. It shined a bright light on what was really important and what was just stuff.

Why do we allow ourselves to get so caught up in all the activity of life that we miss what’s important? Maybe because it’s safer. It’s easier. Less messy. We don’t have to allow ourselves to be as vulnerable, even with the people we love. We don’t have to risk ourselves because we’re filled with excuses that occupy our time.

One dear lady -- a two-time lung cancer survivor -- told me her illness has made her less patient with the drama that surrounds so many people. She fills her life with people that matter, people who laugh, are trustworthy, and who have their priorities in order. She treasures those people and keeps a distance from those who drain her time and energy.

It all comes down to priorities. I wonder how many Christians really take time to quiet their minds and their lives to allow God access to their hearts. Be still, God tells us. Feel His power and His love. Just be still in His Presence. Make God your priority. It has a way of reordering your focus onto what really is important.

April 7, 2016

Choose Your Priorities

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

2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

 -- Ecclesiastes 3:3-8

We all have the same amount of time. Twenty-four hours in a day. Seven days in a week. Twelve months in a year. So why is it some people seem to have so much more time than others?

Time management? Maybe it’s not so much about time management as it is about priorities.

There are certain things we must do each day. Eat. Sleep. Work. Tend to children or parents. There are tasks that pile up if we’re not careful, like laundry and dishes and yard work. We can keep really busy being busy with the tasks of life.

And, in the end, what does it all matter?

I’m not suggesting chunk it all aside for a life of nothing. We must take care of the basics. But what happens when the basics interfere with the life we are called to lead?

We’re back to priorities. What is truly important? To me, spending time with God each day is like the breath of life in my body. I need it. I need Him. I can’t understand how so many people don’t have “time” to talk with God, to study the Bible, to thank Him for so many blessings each day.

That starts things off with my priorities in order. What next? People. It takes seconds to be kind. Open a door. Share a smile. Say “thank you.” Or take a few minutes and call someone who is hurting. Visit someone who is lonely. Give the gift of yourself. You’re the one who will be rewarded.

We all have the same amount of time each day. Use it to further God’s kingdom through your words and actions. Let God, then people, be your priorities and you’ll make a difference for eternity.

March 2, 2016

Put God First

Teach me your way, Lord,
that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.

-- Psalm 86:11

We are all very busy people. We’ve got jobs and activities, people we love, houses to care for. We have a life. Where does God fit into that life?

Ah, there you have it. God fits into the extra moments -- if we have any extra moments. And that’s not the way it’s supposed to work. God is supposed to be first with our time, our money, our love. No wonder we are stressed and tired all the time!

What would happen if you reordered your priorities? What would your life look like? You might have a little less time for watching mindless television. You might have a little less money for gadgets you’ll grow tired of before the month ends. You might have more energy, more time for people who matter. And you might finally find the peace you crave in this stormy life.

I ran into a sweet friend the other day. She rarely comes to church anymore. Her husband isn’t a believer and Sunday is a day for sleeping late and doing nothing. She doesn’t want to make the effort to get up and head alone to church nor does she want to face the guilt of choosing to spend time away from him. I get it.

I wonder sometimes what would happen if she was on fire for Jesus. Would her husband see that passion and want to know what it was all about? If her attitude changed, if she viewed church attendance as more than just another chore, would he view Jesus a little differently? So often we use someone else as an excuse to make a choice that isn’t what God would want. We suffer for it, inside, where the Holy Spirit fills a believer’s heart. We are lesser because we made the wrong choice.

We also suffer when we don’t make time for prayer. I can’t even imagine not talking to God. I laugh that He probably wishes I would shut up sometimes. He is my best friend and I tell Him everything. Sometimes it is the small things, like a beautiful sunset or a cute little calf. Other times it is heartbreak or great joy. He hears it all because that’s what relationship is all about. And that’s what prayer is -- communication with God. It is fundamental to a strong relationship.

What are your priorities? Is God an afterthought in your life? Put God first and watch the rest of your life get easier as your attitude shifts to what is really important.

February 28, 2016

Realign Your Priorities

Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” -- Haggai 1:5-6

What do you want? What are you coveting right now? Oh, come on! You know you do. Everybody wants something they don’t currently have.

Why is that? Why are we never happy with what we have? Why is it never enough? Why are we never enough?

Oh, there you go. Why are we never enough? That’s the question we need to answer. Why are we trying to make ourselves happy, satisfied, appear more affluent? Why are we trying to fill ourselves up with things? All it does is put us deeper into debt and cause us to move on to something else that we “need.”

And it doesn’t have to be a thing. It could be a someone. Have you ever met a person who just knew they would be happy if they were married, had a child, were divorced, had a grandchild? The list could go on and on. They have tied their happiness to someone else.

We do the same thing when we are young. We’ll be so happy when we are a teenager. Life will be great when we get our driver’s license and a car. We can’t wait until college and then we can’t wait until we’ve graduated and have a “real” job. And on and on it goes. One day we’ll be satisfied but we really never will be.

We are seeking our satisfaction, our happiness, our status, in others and in things. Not God. Except that God is the only One who can ever satisfy us. He is the only One who can ever make us happy. And status with Him, well, that is eternal life.

God warned the Israelites. They were so focused on themselves that they neglected God’s temple, which lay in ruins. It’s like us focusing on ourselves rather than putting God first. Who are His workers? We don’t tithe because we can’t afford to give to God when we’re trying to keep and add to all our stuff. We don’t have time to volunteer and help others because we’re too busy working and lounging in front of those big televisions. Besides, we sure wouldn’t want to get our hands dirty. That wouldn’t look good. Maybe we could just write a check after all?

We will never fill ourselves up with things because we will never have enough. We will never truly be happy if we are depending on the actions, or inactions, of others to do it for us.

Focus on God. Put Him first. That’s right. Realign your priorities. You might have a few less things but you’ll have a full heart and more than enough to satisfy all you needs. And as a bonus: You won’t even care about all that stuff anymore.

Friday, October 26, 2012

We’re Already Living In Eternity

“Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

-- John 17:3

When does eternity begin? I guess I’d never really thought of it. Sounds strange I suppose. Eternity is, well, life in Heaven. Right?

Yes -- and so much more. Eternity begins when we first believe. Jesus Christ defeated death so for those of us who belong to Him, we won’t die. Oh our bodies will, but we won’t. So, for us, we’re already living in eternity.

Now that it’s clear, how does that impact your life? Does that refocus your day to day decisions and reorder what’s important and what isn’t important? Does knowing you’re already living in eternity make problems seem less severe? Does time seem easier to find for those things, those people, who are truly important?

Because if we’re already living in eternity, that car that just cut you off in traffic doesn’t seem so important. In eternity, small aggravations take on a new meaning. They don’t matter. People matter. Loving those around you matters. Taking time to do good. Those things matter in eternity.

So how about another question: Do you really see the people around you? Do you notice the co-worker whose smile doesn’t quite reach her eyes? Do you see the harried mother with two small children and a grocery cart with very little in it? Do you notice the homeless man at the corner? Do you reach out to the elderly neighbor that no one ever seems to visit?

Because when we start living our lives as though we’re already in eternity our priorities get reordered. We notice those who are hurting -- and we do something about it. Maybe it’s just a kind word. Maybe it’s taking time to listen. Maybe it’s extending friendship or an invitation to church or another activity.

Living in eternity means finding time for the elderly, the sick, the poor, those in jail, those in recovery, those who don’t yet believe. It is noticing all those around us the same way Jesus noticed those around Him while He walked this earth as a man.

It doesn’t mean we neglect our jobs or duties. In the early days, some believers thought it was okay to sit around and do nothing while they waited for Jesus to return. We aren’t supposed to do that. We’re to work and be productive and take care of those around us. God has a plan for our lives here on earth.

It’s just easier to truly see where He’s leading us when we understand that we’re already living in eternity.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Focus Scattered Mind On God

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. -- Ephesians 2:10

It’s all about priorities. That’s what I tell myself anyway. But truthfully, just between us, most days my mind is so scattered from the overflow of tasks that it’s a wonder I ever manage to get anything done. Do you know what I’m talking about?

I’ve never been particularly coordinated and yet I find myself juggling too many things anyway. I keep telling myself to hang on. One day I’ll get a day off. I have to laugh at that. I’ve been saying it for years and I’m not sure a day off is any closer now that it was back then.

For most of us, a day off is simply not an option. My dream day off? A day with nothing to do and no responsibilities. I know. It’s just not happening. I’d probably be bored if it did. Isn’t that how life usually is? We want what we want until we get it. Then we want something else.

For a while I tried a “to do” list, conveniently written on a chalkboard I see whenever I sit down. I soon learned to ignore it. Of course, that meant it became useless. I didn’t mean to ignore it. Really. It’s just that I’d run out of time before I got everything done and then I’d start the next day already behind. After a while, it just got too frustrating to try and catch up.

These days I try to take a deep breath and focus. It’s a silent word I repeat over and over. If I can just focus on what’s important, I can deal with the rest later. But what’s important? Surely laundry and elderly parents and work and animals are all important? And so I juggle some more.

The Holy Spirit beckons to me. What’s important? Really. What’s important? Whatever God has called me to do. Whatever God has called you to do. To love others. Show mercy. Extend kindness. To tell others about Jesus.

God has prepared something for each of us to do. We’re all unique so our tasks are all different. But it’s something special for us alone. The key is spending time with God and listening to what He says so that we can learn what it is.

Quietness. Solitude. Time in the Word. Prayer. A relationship with God that brings peace amid turmoil, focus amid a scattered mind. That is the key I’ve been searching for all along.

It’s so easy to get caught up in the stuff that fills our lives and lose focus on what’s important. Start each day with time with God. Stay focused on Him as you go about your daily tasks. It helps keep you centered and able to make clear choices about what’s important and what’s not.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Impress God First

I know, O LORD, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps. -- Jeremiah 10:23

Who did you try to impress today? Oh, come on. Surely there was somebody you wanted to admire you, to think highly of you, to want to be like you. Maybe a boss or co-worker, a spouse or friend, a neighbor or fellow church member.

And that’s not all bad. In some cases, we strive harder and higher than we might otherwise. Or we clean our house with a little more diligence. Or we give a little more of ourselves to a worthy cause.

Other times it’s not good at all. We end up trying to be someone we aren’t trying to impress people we really shouldn’t want to impress. It’s that whole social class thing. We learned it in grade school. Everyone wanted to be friends with the popular kids, to be chosen first on sports teams, to fit in with the “in” crowd.

We carry that with us throughout our lives. We must be careful so that we don’t lose focus on the only One we need to impress: God.

The other day I watched someone working really hard in the blazing July heat. He knew it was way too hot to be doing what he was doing. He’d remarked on it himself for weeks. But company was coming and he wanted to impress them with all that he had done.

I’m just as guilty. A small group is using our Sunday school room for class one night a week. We’d been talking about for months that we needed to refresh and update the classroom. Suddenly, it’s become more urgent. We want to make a good impression. I want to make a good impression.

We want other people to like us and take notice of us. I wish we tried just as hard to impress God. What would God have you do today? What do you need to clean up so that it’s up to God’s standards? What do you need to try harder at so that God will admire your efforts?

God deserves our very best but sometimes it seems as though we’re so busy trying to impress other people that we neglect the One who created us and loves us most of all. We relegate God to the backburner, determined to get to whatever it is that He’s called us to do when we finish with everything else.

Our balance is more than a little out of whack. We don’t belong to ourselves. And we certainly don’t belong to all those people we’re trying to impress. We belong to God and our goal should always be to put Him first and do whatever He has called us to do to the best of our ability.

So who do you try to impress today? I hope you answered “God.”

Thursday, October 28, 2010

What Are Your Priorities?

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."

-- James 1:22

Are you talking to me, God? Surely you meant someone else. I don't have time to take care of widows and orphans. I mean, really, I don't. I work hard. You want me to give some of my money away too? I can't afford to do that. No. Not me. It takes a lot to keep up my lifestyle.

Why do I have to be the one? I go to church most Sundays. I even tithe. Why don't you get on somebody that doesn't do that? I do my share. I do. Why should I have to give more than other people? It's just not fair.

And I don't know why I'm the one who's supposed to give my time to others. There are lots of people out of work or retired. Let them do it. They've got time to drive someone to a doctor appointment or coach an Upward Bound team. What do I know about kids anyway? It takes all I can do to network and advance my career. I don't have any energy left to give to anyone else.

I know I should spend more time reading the Bible. I try to read my Sunday school lesson every week. I don't always make it. It doesn't matter. I've heard it all before anyway. I grew up going to church and vacation bible school and all those things. I learned all the songs, complete with hand movements. I memorized a few key verses. I'm good. Really.

Yeah. I know you'd like to hear from me a little more, God. I try. Really I do. It's just that I get busy. I'm not much of a morning person. It takes all I can do to get up and get to work on time. I know. It's a little easier when I'm going out to do something fun. Still, I mean to talk to you when I get home. I'm just so tired. It's like the rollercoaster never ends. I wish I had just one day to do nothing. Wouldn't that be great?

What did you say God? Oh, that's why you said Sunday should be a day of rest. Yeah. You're right. I should do that. It does feel good, too, when I spend time when the kids at church or invite an elderly widow out to lunch. I probably enjoy it more than they do.

I know. I don't really need that new car I've had my eye on. Mine is only a couple of years old. It wouldn't hurt me to buy a bag of groceries for that family down the street. I hear the man lost his job and his wife has cancer. That's a tough road. Maybe I could pay the electric bill for that elderly man who lives near my parents. They say he's struggling to get by on social security.

I could probably carve out some time every day to sit with you, God. I miss our time together. I learned a lot when we were together. Come to think of it, I felt a whole lot less stressed when you and I visited together every day. I thought it was just that I was extra busy. Maybe too busy.

I think maybe I need to realign my priorities, God. Thanks for pointing that out. You didn't mean for the Bible to guide somebody else. You meant for it to guide me. Thanks for loving me enough to send Jesus to save me and thanks for loving me enough to not ever give up on me. Your child.