This Is the Day

      Deep breath… the last ones are on their way!

That’s how it felt yesterday morning when our daughter Brianne and her new husband Joshua pulled out and headed for home in New Hampshire. A weekend full of freezing rain coincided with their wedding, so I was quite concerned about guests and family members getting home by car or by plane. Joanne’s sister left with Brianne and Joshua because her flight from Bar Harbor (Trenton) had just been cancelled for the fourth time. Her own kids were coming home to New Jersey for Christmas, so – while she loves us – she was very eager to get out of here. Thankfully, Brianne and Joshua were able to deliver her to Boston and she got a flight last night and finally got home. If you have ever been in the middle of travel woes caused by inclement weather, you can identify with some of the emotions and concerns.

I wonder what it was like for Joseph and Mary. It must not have been easy to travel to Bethlehem from Nazareth in Galilee, especially as Mary was nearing the delivery of her first child. My imagination has them muttering to one another… “Stupid Caesar and his registration…!” Mary was such a godly young woman, though. She had said to the angel… “I am the Lord's servant… May it be to me as you have said.” (Luke 1:38). She was saying (my paraphrase) to the angel… “I’m ready for whatever God has in store for me… I am willing to receive whatever the Lord has planned.” What an example she is to us.

A relative of mine was “complaining” recently on Facebook about having to clear the car of snow. I felt like commenting, “Stop your whining and be thankful.” I didn’t, but I did post this: “Psalm 118:24”. Amidst all the inconveniences that life throws our way, Psalm 118:24 stands like a fortress for our hearts. It says, “We will…”. I will deliberately choose and intentionally see my day in a certain way. I do not have to live my life as if God is not there. He is there… and that will impact my attitudes and my choices… toward weather, inconveniences, people, things I can control, and things I can do nothing about. In all that, my attitude may be subject to God.

May we follow Mary’s example and be ready and willing to receive from the Lord’s hand what He has for each day, because we know He Himself will be with us. And let’s be praying for those without power from the storm… especially as the temperature drops… and let’s pray for the workers out restoring it. AMEN.

Psalm 118:24 (NIV) ²⁴  This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

PRAYER:  Father, I will rejoice today, for today is a gift from you. Whatever may happen this day, I am counting on the fact that each day you give yourself through your Spirit. Thank you for the gift of your presence. Take away any complaining spirit that abides in me and lead me to rejoice and be glad in you. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!

Scott

Let It Snow, Let Snow

     The weather is always a good reminder to me that I am not in control and that everything does not always go according to my plan. A few inches of snow can shut down the plans of many, and many inches of snow can bring a community – even a whole region – to a virtual halt. If you’re living on a tight schedule with much to do and important events to attend, watch out! A few (or a lot of) flakes of snow can grind your agenda to a sudden halt, and you are “helpless” to do anything about it, except wait. Airport terminals overloaded with travelers know these things. Drivers grounded in motels and homes know this. Cities trying to remove the white stuff are full of inconvenienced commuters and shoppers. I guess we all know what enough snow is capable of doing.

But how do I respond? If you live in Maine long enough you realize that, for the most part, you slow down and go with the flow. You “respect” the conditions enough to not act foolishly and you do not proceed as if nothing were happening. You anticipate delays, and you expect your schedule will have to change, and you figure that some things just can’t be. If you cannot do these things, then Maine is probably not the place to be living. Control freaks don’t do well in snowstorms, and the bigger one you are, the more likely you are to end up crying or screaming.

It is good to have reminders that we are not in control… that life does not revolve around us. There are things that are “bigger” than we are. The most important application of this is that we remember that God is in control. I live in a “Christ-centered” universe, not a “Scott-centered” universe. I need to listen and focus on the sovereignty of God in all things, and be prepared to adjust myself to Him, rather than expecting Him to adjust to me. This is where I go wrong in prayer so often. I expect God to accommodate my “wishes” in prayer. I think, “He should do what I want Him to do,” rather than, “I should do what He wants me to do.” What a good thing to remember when praying: I live in a Christ-centered universe. Just that one truth will impact how I pray.

Perhaps each time it snows this winter we can be reminded of that truth, and we can live and pray in a mental and even physical posture of submission and surrender and acceptance toward the Lord of this universe.

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

Matthew 6:7-15 (NIV) ⁷  And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. ⁸  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. ⁹  "This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, ¹⁰  your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. ¹¹  Give us today our daily bread. ¹²  Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ¹³  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.' ¹⁴  For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵  But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

PRAYER:  Father, You know all things, and you do all things well. Remind me – even through the inconveniences of my life – that you are in control… that you are sovereign. Thank you for inviting me to come to you in prayer about all things. Help me to listen and receive, and not just dictate a wishlist to you every time I pray. I love you and thank you for your grace. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!

Scott

Whatever It Takes

     How is joy possible in the midst of trials? We’ve been thinking about this in our Bible study in James on Thursday nights. God’s Word is full of surprises like this one. When James tells us to count the presence of trials in our lives as joy, you initially want to ask, “Why does God always ask us to do such hard things?” – because such a response to hardship seems so difficult. Trials come in all shapes and sizes. We used a ski trail analogy this past week (green circle is easy/beginner, blue square is more difficult/moderate, and black diamond is very difficult/”expert”) to think about our own trials. Do you have any “black diamond” trials going on in your life right now? James says to you, “Count it all joy.” He does not say “Enjoy them.” He doesn’t say that trials are a joy. Nor does he teach a “Don’t worry, be happy!” message.

Basically, James communicates to us that, in God’s hands, trials will produce something that will ultimately be good. Every trial we undergo (light and heavy) is a test of our faith. It is a make it or break it opportunity (with regard to faith). But God’s plan for testing our faith is intended to bring about perseverance and, beyond that, maturity, or Christlikeness. Becoming like Jesus is the real source of joy. So, when we say we want to be like Jesus, part of that is welcoming trials. Would you ever pray a prayer that went like this: “Lord, do whatever it takes in my life to make me like Jesus. Amen!”? That is a great prayer. But it’s a challenging prayer. Certainly we want to be like Christ, yet we must remember that Jesus told his disciples it would be a rough road for any who would follow after Him. But being with Jesus, becoming like Jesus, and looking forward to being with Him in eternity is greater than anything we face in this life.

When you think about all that Christ underwent on the cross – the physical pain, but most of all the spiritual weight of bearing the Father’s punishment for our sin – it’s hard to imagine the possibility of Him finding any joy in that. But for Christ the hardship was not the joy. It was the result of the hardship that was His joy. I think that is a model for us, for James is teaching that it works the same way in us. There’s an old Gospel hymn by Esther Rusthoi I used to sing when I was younger, with the words, “It will be worth it all when we see Jesus, Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ; One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase, So bravely run the race till we see Christ.”

While trials are never easy, I cannot imagine life – with its trials – without Christ. As hard as it can be to make sense of heartaches, tears, separations, disappointments, and pain as a Christian looking forward to eternity, how desperately sad it is to think of people trying to make sense of trials and trying to get through them without the kind of hope we have in Jesus! No wonder people turn to so many harmful things and distractions to escape or to “medicate” their pain. But Jesus bore our pain on the cross – as bad as it may be. As difficult as the trials are – Jesus not only understands, but He intercedes. He carries us through and helps us to persevere, if we trust Him. Christ has overcome the world – including all the trials a person might ever face. And the end result He has in mind for us (completeness in Him) is worth reckoning the trials for joy.

Hebrews 12:2-3 (NIV) ²  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

John 16:33 (NIV) ³³  "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

2 Timothy 3:10-12 (NIV) ¹⁰  You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, ¹¹  persecutions, sufferings--what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. ¹²  In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

PRAYER:  Lord, do whatever it takes in my life to make me like Christ. May your grace be sufficient for every trial I face. May my faith grow strong through the trials. Let me share in the joy of Christ, and may my vision see through to the end you have in store for me. Thank you. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!

Scott

Wrestling With a Monster

     I totally missed it and I survived. I did not enter a single store on Black Friday and lived to tell about it. Black Friday has become an industry in and of itself. It reaches out to grab every possible person it can. It has backed itself up into Thursday – Thanksgiving Day – to increase its piece of the action of people’s lives and pocketbooks. Every store and business – clamoring to get our attention with “an offer you can’t refuse” – appeals to our culture’s materialism. There is this delicate balance between businesses trying to stay alive and people trying to get the best deal they can on things they typically want, but do not necessarily need.

I’m not a very good person to criticize the whole thing. The monster of materialism lurks within me as well. If I “have it”, I will often be tempted to spend it. This year – with college, wedding, and medical bills pressing in – I didn’t “have it”, so ignoring Black Friday (and “Small Business Saturday” and “Cyber-Monday”) was pretty easy to do. I felt bad for the people who lost their jobs because they wouldn’t open stores or businesses on Thanksgiving Day. Some took a stand and suffered for it. More evidence of our culture’s ongoing and growing romance with materialism. So many people’s jobs… their livelihood – depends on people’s greed at Christmas time. Isn’t that ironic? Christmas season spending makes or breaks companies every year. People “need” other people to spend (even wastefully and carelessly) at Christmas in order to be able to pay their bills and provide for their families. It seems like one of those “necessary” evils.

Nowhere is it written in any law or made a requirement for life that I participate. This season is always a valuable time for me to wrestle through the difference between needs and wants. And it’s not just a wrestling match in my conscience. It’s a wrestling match in prayer. “Lord, how do You want me to respond? Give me eyes to clearly see the difference between my needs and my wants. Give me strength to choose wisely. Help me to be a good steward, because all that I gain comes to me from Your hand. It’s Your money that I am spending – or being tempted to spend. I ask for wisdom and care, and I want a hand that is open to others and generous. Keep me from being sucked in by the monster of materialism. Remind me that You – and You always will – meet my needs. Help me to learn contentment and give You thanks. Deliver me from everything in this season that is part of the monster, and let me enjoy You and all You have done for me through Your Son. Lead me to glorify You and not become focused on my wants and help me to be a humble example to my family and to others. You have been so good to me, and I bless Your name…”

Your prayer may be different than mine, but if you ever do wrestle in any way with the monster of materialism – inwardly or with the pressure outwardly from the world – I encourage you to take that “wrestling match” to the Lord in prayer. Tell Him your weak spots. Seek His forgiveness for spiritual failings. Seek to love Him more and to have your affections redirected by His grace. Without prayer, the monster usually wins. But if we go to the Lord, it cannot stand in His presence and it cannot withstand His power.

1 Timothy 6:6-8 (NIV) ⁶  But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷  For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ⁸  But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV) ¹¹  I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹²  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³  I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Proverbs 15:16 (NIV) ¹⁶  Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth with turmoil.

Hebrews 13:5 (NIV) ⁵  Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you that you give us our daily bread. Teach me to want you, and to be satisfied with you and with your will for me. Teach me to be a wise steward of all that you provide for me. Keep me from loving it and wanting it more than I love or want you. Temptation is real. I need you. Thank you. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!

Scott

Faithful God

     In Greek mythology Sisyphus was a king of Ephyra (now known as Corinth).  He was punished for chronic deceitfulness by being compelled to roll an immense boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll back down, and to repeat this action forever. On Sunday morning I felt a little bit like Sisyphus. On Friday and Saturday I had been able to blow and rake and gather up the leaves in our yard – very thankful for the excellent weather conditions for doing so. Finishing a job like that always feels good. But on Sunday morning a very light blanket of leaves was spread over the lawn again. Maple trees in Maine take their sweet time in shedding all of their leaves. But waiting for the last leaf is always risky weather-wise. I knew it would happen, but it was still a bit deflating.

A man I know has spent much of his life feeling like he is always taking one step forward and two steps back. For every bit of “progress” it seems like there is a commensurate falling behind. The level of frustration can be mind-numbing for him. We can feel this way in life – financially, relationally, and spiritually. There are times of spiritual growth that inspire and encourage us and lead us to feel very close to God. And then there are “desert” experiences of spiritual dryness when we don’t seem to be able to hear or see God and wonder where He’s gone. We fall back. Some people have even wondered if they’re still Christians.

It is awesome to know that, while we may have our rollercoasters and “hiccups” in life, God is faithful. There has never been the slightest moment in eternity when God has not been faithful. While our experience can sometimes serve to get our eyes off of Him and His faithfulness, His Word will always remind us that His faithfulness is unchanging. Every discouragement we encounter… every setback… every failure… is an opportunity to sing – or at least to remember - the words of Thomas Chisholm: “Great is Thy faithfulness, oh God my Father… There is no shadow of turning with Thee… Thou changest not, Thy compassions fail not… As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be. Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!”

I typically want to sing that when I feel His faithfulness. The words come more robustly to my lips. But I need the words more when I am in the pit of discouragement… when I feel like I am going the wrong way and don’t seem to be able to change my circumstances. It is when I am “in the valley” that my soul needs restoring. And in those moments, the words of Chisholm’s song and so much of Scripture are no less true. They are as true as they have ever been. God is faithful! So may the Lord help me, by His Spirit, to see that truth all the time. And may He protect my heart from the efforts of the enemy to blind my vision from seeing it. Thank You, Lord!

Deuteronomy 7:9 (NIV) ⁹  Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.

1 Kings 8:56 (NIV) ⁵⁶  "Praise be to the LORD, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses.

Psalm 36:5 (NIV) ⁵  Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.

Psalm 89:1 (NIV) ¹  I will sing of the LORD's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NIV) ³  But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

PRAYER:  Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth… Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide. Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow… blessings all min with ten thousand beside. Thank you, Lord, for Your great faithfulness. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!

Scott

Making Things Right

            Do you believe that one day God will “make all things right”? Day after day we see injustice all around us. Some of it brings us to tears because it just seems so unfair. One of God’s attributes is that He is just. In many of the psalms are appeals to God to act on behalf of those in need: of those who are suffering at the hands of others. The cry goes out to Him with the hope that He will make things right. The way that evil seems to prosper makes some people wonder if there even is a God. People wait years and years for justice that never seems to come. And the longing of the child of God who is a victim of such injustice… is for God to intervene in his/her helplessness. But how long is too long to wait?

            Last week an envelope addressed to me from the District Attorney’s office in Ellsworth was delivered to the church building. As I looked at it I became very curious why I would be receiving anything from the DA’s office. As far as I knew, I wasn’t in trouble for anything. When I opened the letter I received quite a surprise. Inside it was a letter and a check made out to the church for $450. What in the world was this all about? Why should we be receiving such a letter and check? Well, early in 2002 the church became a victim of theft by deception and we were defrauded out of some money that we though was buying us “advertising” space on a display at Hannaford. It was all a hoax. The person responsible was tried, found guilty, and sentenced many years ago, and I had long forgotten about it, and never held out much hope that the church would ever receive any restitution. And now, almost 12 years later, a form of justice was served. The attempt was made to “make things right.” I’m glad for the church to receive this check, unexpected as it was.

            Twelve years seems like a long time, but it’s nothing compared to the wait of others for some injustice to be made right. Our hope and our confidence is that God, who is sovereign and all-knowing, will make all things right. It may be that there are some kinds of justice that will never be served in this life. Some situations will never be resolved or reconciled until eternity. But we serve and know the God of Abraham, who asked (rhetorically, knowing the answer to be “Yes”), “Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?”

            We may have confidence in God to do what is right in His time and in exactly the right way. This is one of the foundations of hope in our lives. We may be helpless, but God is not. We may want “immediate results” from God, but He sees the whole picture and He will not let one molecule of injustice prevail. While we wait in hope, faith gives us assurance that God does all things well, and He will not miss anything. This does not produce feelings of glee in us. We are not bent on revenge such that we take joy in someone’s punishment or judgment. But we do trust the Judge of all the earth to do right. And in that trust we can find peace when we are a victim of any injustice and when we question the profusion of evil in our world. The Scriptures help us.

Psalm 94:1-11 (NIV) ¹  O LORD, the God who avenges, O God who avenges, shine forth. ²  Rise up, O Judge of the earth; pay back to the proud what they deserve. ³  How long will the wicked, O LORD, how long will the wicked be jubilant? ⁴  They pour out arrogant words; all the evildoers are full of boasting. ⁵  They crush your people, O LORD; they oppress your inheritance. ⁶  They slay the widow and the alien; they murder the fatherless. ⁷  They say, "The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob pays no heed." ⁸  Take heed, you senseless ones among the people; you fools, when will you become wise? ⁹  Does he who implanted the ear not hear? Does he who formed the eye not see? ¹⁰  Does he who disciplines nations not punish? Does he who teaches man lack knowledge? ¹¹  The LORD knows the thoughts of man; he knows that they are futile.

Romans 12:17-19 (NIV) ¹⁷  Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. ¹⁸  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹  Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.

Revelation 21:1-4 (NIV) ¹  Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. ²  I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. ³  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴  He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

PRAYER:  Lord, I rest in you. Thank you for peace while the world around me is going haywire. My hope is in you, and I that you that you, the Judge of the earth, will do right. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!

Scott

Mirror Mirror on the Wall

            In the fairytale Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs the wicked witch uses a mirror which speaks every time she looks in it. When she asks it (“Mirror, mirror, on the wall…”) who the most beautiful woman in the kingdom is, she is used to it telling her that she is the fairest. This continues until one day when the mirror, which cannot tell a lie, informs her that Snow White has become the fairest.

            A good mirror is honest. It tells the truth. I don’t always like it, but when I look at my mirror in the morning it does nothing to hide my flaws or cover up things that I wish were not there. Some mirrors make people look slimmer… or at least we tell ourselves so. We may be tempted to buy and use such mirrors. But really, how good is a mirror that isn’t honest? When dirty or fogged up, our mirrors aren’t very useful. Nobody I know uses a carnival mirror in their home. It’s fun in the funhouse to look at our distorted images and have a laugh. But one thing we need in a mirror is an image that is not distorted.  The passenger side view mirror on my car warns me that it doesn’t tell the truth. It tells me that objects are really closer than they appear. If I ignore the warning and believe what I see in that mirror, I could end up dead. Manufacturers and scientists trust in mirrors in telescopes and cameras and all kinds of devices. Remember when the mirrors in the Hubble telescope had to be repaired (or replaced?) because they were defective?

            Like it or not, a good mirror is true. It is honest. It does not distort what it reflects. The Word of God is like a good mirror. It tells us the truth about ourselves. It exposes our sinful attitudes and practices for what they are. It doesn’t distort our failures and deficiencies before God. It tells us the truth about our universe, our world, about human existence and humanity’s problems. If you want to understand your world or even yourself, read the Word of God. It does not lie. And, most importantly, it tells us who God is and what He has done to show His marvelous grace to us. It tells us about His true nature and being, along with His works in creation and in history. If you ever read your Bible and feel like you “don’t like” what you’re reading (or that it makes you uncomfortable), ask yourself what truth is this “mirror” reflecting, and let God’s Spirit teach you its significance and value, and what your response should be. You can rely on it.

James 1:22-25 (NIV) ²²  Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ²³  Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴  and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵  But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.

Psalm 19:7-8 (NIV) ⁷  The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. ⁸  The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you that your Word is truth. When it ‘hurts”, lead me to you for healing and correction. When it instructs, help me learn. When it commands, lead me to obey. When it commends, may I glorify you. When it speaks, open my ears to listen. Thank you for all that your Word does. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!

Scott

Rest

            The other night I was watching one of the World Series baseball games. Much was made before the game as to whether the Red Sox pitcher – Clay Buchholz – would actually be able to pitch. Buchholz, who already was pushed back to Sunday (to pitch) because of concerns about stiffness in his problematic right shoulder, said Saturday he’s “not 100 percent” and sounded as if he would be grateful to complete five innings. Commentators were wondering why the Red Sox manager should even let him play.

            Many great pitchers never make it to a major league game in their lives. Their arms just can’t do it. Many who do make it don’t have long careers for the same reason: their arm is injured or just gives out, losing its strength. The repetitive motion and the physical stress are so great that they can do serious damage over time. Pitchers make a regular practice of icing their arms after every outing. I remember seeing Sandy Koufax with his arm immersed in a large container of water which was full of ice. His elbow was then wrapped in ice for hours. Things like this are routinely done for big league pitchers. It’s amazing that some of them last as long as they do.

            On Saturday my left arm began to get weak after a relatively short while when I was helping Tony Gott move to a new home. It felt very strange because that usually doesn’t happen to me. Several people were there helping, and one of the last things we moved was the heaviest thing of the day. I was struggling more than I wanted to in that left arm. It just “went out” on me. So others had to do more to make up the difference.

            When a muscle is stressed and overused it can only maintain strength for so long. More than anything else it needs rest. Isn’t it the same with the Body of Christ? There are times when certain members have worked so hard for so long that they become weary and weak. When that happens, they need rest. Without it they will get burned out or possibly even broken. This is why every member of the Body is needed. Overuse is dangerous. Let us not be idle while our brothers and sisters work so hard that their strength fails. Let us not be observers only when there is work to be done. Rather, let each of us do his part in those things Christ wants to do in our church and community. An arm works great, but it can’t do it all alone.

            And let us remember to be careful to rest – physically, mentally, and spiritually – in our service to the Lord. It will last longer and be more effective. Certainly our God gives strength to the weak, and He is able to do in us many things which we cannot do on our own. Yet His Word also calls us to rest and it calls for each member to do his part

1 Corinthians 12:12,27 – “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ… Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is part of it.”

Ephesians 4:12 – “… to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up…”

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for strength. And thank you for rest. Give me wisdom to know when I need to rest. And give me more strength for everything I need to do to serve you faithfully. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!

Scott

Keeping in Step

            Have you ever marched to “Pomp and Circumstance” during your life? Whenever I go to an MDI High School graduation, hear the band, and watch (most of) the students stepping in time – or trying to – my memory goes back to 1974 when I graduated from Edward Little High School in Auburn. Miss Gervais, one of our French teachers, played the organ in the large auditorium as about 400 students marched. She must have been doing it for about a hundred years by the time I graduated. I wonder if she got tired of the playing, since the class was so large. I remember counting it out as we marched: left foot step, right foot stop, right foot step, left foot stop… over and over again while hoping I wouldn’t trip and make a fool of myself.

            This stepping pattern has also been used in weddings I’ve observed and a number I have officiated. I always leave the decision as to whether or not the bride and her attendants will do it… to her. They can usually handle it just fine, but the dads are sometimes a different story. Some can’t be bothered. Some are afraid of messing up. And some manage quite well. I hope I’ll be in this last category when Brianne gets married. I don’t want to do anything silly that draws attention to myself. However, I’m quite certain that Brianne will be so beautiful that it will be very difficult to distract people from her.

            I was never in the military, so I never learned to march properly. But it’s impressive to watch a well-trained unit or drill team going through its paces. The precision is remarkable. The same is true of marching bands and drum corps. Members of these groups have to be able to keep in step with each other, and the best ones do so with apparent perfection.

            The Apostle Paul uses this idea with regard to our life in the Holy Spirit. He says that those who belong to Christ are to “keep in step” with the Spirit. In other words, we are follow the pattern for living that He establishes. Our walk should be “in rhythm” with Him rather than being distracted by the rhythms of the world around us. What He does, we should do. Where He guides, we should go. When He commands, we should obey immediately. Any member of a drill team or a military platoon cannot just “do his own thing”, can he? The whole point is being one in movement, sound, and rhythm. It is to avoid calling attention to yourself but being one with others in whatever cadence the leader directs. The Holy Spirit is our leader in helping us to follow Christ. He sets the beat and we are called to be “in sync” with Him.

Some illustrations of this principle you might want to view can be found at the following links: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1UZpsdxDN0  (metronomes); http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4p0DsVPkyZg  (Japanese synchronized walking – men) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jINuX_Hort8   (Japanese synchronized walking - women)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xteDjaNKY0  (United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon)

Galatians 5:22-26 (NIV) ²²  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. ²⁵  Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶  Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Job 23:11 (NIV) ¹¹  My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside.

Job 31:4 (NIV) ⁴  Does he not see my ways and count my every step?

Psalm 17:5 (NIV) ⁵  My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not slipped.

Psalm 37:23 (KJV) ²³  The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

Colossians 2:6 (NASB) ⁶  Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,

PRAYER:  Father, as your Spirit sets the pace for me to follow with my brothers and sisters in Christ, help me to listen to Him and to stay true to the steps He has for us. Help to remember that it’s not about me and drawing attention to myself, but rather it’s about Jesus and drawing attention to Him. May He be fully on view in me. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!

Scott

Owner's Manual

      Joanne likes to get out and rake this time of year. Raking leaves has never been one of my favorite things to do. We had a huge lawn where I grew up, and all leaf removal was by manpower only. My dad didn’t buy machines to help and he could not afford heavy equipment to manage the leaves. He did, however, have six kids who were a pretty good workforce. Seasons came and seasons went. Somehow the job got done.

      This summer I decided to “get out of raking”. I bought a Toro Power Vac leaf blower and vacuum. I haven’t tried it out yet, but I am hoping it will be a better, quicker, and easier way to deal with the many maple leaves that fill our yard each year. Yesterday I took it out of the box. While it was tempting to start putting the attachments together and give it a try, I held off. The machine might look ready, but I wasn’t. Having a machine in front of me doesn’t mean I know what to do with it. I hadn’t read the owner’s manual. I like to read the owner’s manual when I buy something. I feel safer and more competent when I read the owner’s manual. I feel like I have a better chance of NOT breaking something (man or machine) if I’ve read the owner’s manual.

       Owner’s manuals are useful, even critical items. When they are ignored, bad things can happen. Users who ignore owner’s manuals do so to their own peril. You could even say they are foolish. The foolishness of pride is a sad and destructive thing. While it may not always be a big deal with some products or projects in our lives, it is always a big deal with regard to the spiritual life. And for that there is the most important owner’s manual - the Bible. By God’s grace we are “users” of His manual, which never leads astray. It always guides us to know and do God’s will. It shows us what choices we should make and what paths we should take. We can trust that following the Bible will always result in success (God’s version) in whatever “job” or task we face. The Bible is God’s manual for our lives. We ignore it at our peril. We use it for life. Taking it for granted results in harm. Taking it seriously results in hope and a godly health. God’s Word shows the way. It explains the what, where, why, and how of knowing God. Are you living today according to the Owner’s Manual? If not, what are you risking? What dangers are you facing? I encourage you to open God’s Word today and seek Him.

Psalm 19:7-11 (NIV) ⁷  The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. ⁸  The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. ⁹  The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. ¹⁰  They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. ¹¹  By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

Psalm 119:9-11 (NIV) ⁹  How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. ¹⁰  I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. ¹¹  I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV) ¹⁵  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV) ¹⁶  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷  so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Psalm 119:105 (NIV) ¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

Romans 15:4 (NIV) ⁴  For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

PRAYER:  Father, Your Word is life. Lead me away from trusting in any other word than Yours. Transform me by Your Word. Guide me. I desire to know Your Word and to let it shape my life. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

 Jesus Christ is Lord!

Scott