"Fine!"

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

Some people grow up in homes/settings where there is an unwritten curriculum. It’s a short, simple curriculum about what to communicate to others. No matter what the situation… no matter what your experience… no matter what you are feeling… when asked how you are doing, always say, “Fine!” And the second part of the curriculum is… whenever possible – as much as possible – always smile when you say, “Fine!”

You see, you would never want anyone to know that there was anything wrong in your life or with your life, because everything is supposed to be fine. You would not want anyone to think less of you, or look down on you, or make you the object of gossip or some other inappropriate form of conversation. You wouldn’t want anyone to know that you are not strong all the time, not smart about everything, don’t always know what to do or say, aren’t in full control of your emotions or actions, You wouldn’t want anyone to know that you had failed (or were failing) at something, that you’ve made tons of mistakes in your relationships, parenting, and personal decisions. You wouldn’t want people to get the wrong idea about you, so you show only certain things: the things you don’t mind people knowing/seeing. These are typically good things - in your mind - things that communicate that you really are doing just fine.

On Sunday morning in worship, six people very briefly communicated something to the rest of us that said, “I’m not fine.” That was a very powerful moment, even though it came and went very quickly. These folks were helping us become acquainted with a new ministry starting in our church that is designed to encourage people with hurts, hang-ups, and habits that contribute to their lives not being “fine”. The moment was powerful because it was a dose of reality. Though it is not the only time in the week, Sunday morning (at church) is one of the biggest smiling “I’m fine!” times in our lives. There either isn’t the time or the inclination to drop the masks that we wear. Because if we do, who knows what will happen? Someone might be shocked. Someone might be disappointed. Someone might be sad or hurt. Our reasons for feeling “fine” usually have more to do with us and our fear of embarrassment or rejection, but we certainly wouldn’t want to make someone else feel bad either.

Whatever our reasons for the limited “I’m fine” vocabulary, we hold back. I think that’s why those who shared on Sunday – and what they said - felt so powerful. It was fresh air in a stale room, life amidst death, reality in the midst of pretend, openness in a place where we tend to be comfortably closed. If I had to pick a word that described what happened and the difference I felt, it would be “vulnerability”. A few people for a brief time made themselves vulnerable, and my heart began to sing. I believe we are attracted to vulnerable people, ultimately because that’s what we would like to be. To be “vulnerable” is to be… “capable of or susceptible to being wounded or hurt”. So vulnerability communicates “I’m not fine!” It prefers the truth to being safe. It prefers honesty and transparency, even when it is accompanied by fear of being misunderstood or mistreated or undervalued.

One reason (of many) that Christ has given us the Church is that we might love one another. We do this by caring, by listening, by encouraging, by giving grace, by forgiving and accepting, and by praying for others who are vulnerable before us. I’m thankful for the examples on Sunday, and I pray for blessings on this ministry. But I also pray that the Holy Spirit will open up the floodgates of our hearts to one another, and for all the grace that the Lord will pour out to us in our brokenness, pain, weakness, foolishness, confusion, poor decisions, misbehaviors, and sheer stupidity. May we be givers and sharers of this same grace when our brothers and sisters let us know “I’m not fine”.

John 13:34 (NIV) ³⁴  "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

Matthew 9:12-13 (NIV) ¹²  On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. ¹³  But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

1 Timothy 1:15 (NIV)  Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst.

1 Timothy 1:15 (MSG)  Here's a word you can take to heart and depend on: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. I'm proof—Public Sinner Number One—

Psalm 51:17 (NIV)  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

PRAYER:  Father, thank you for the way that even my brokenness can bring you glory. Thank you for your grace to me, and that your grace gives me something to share – a testimony of your power and goodness to me, a sinner. Your grace is more than enough for everything in my life that really isn’t “fine”. Thank you for that. In Jesus’ name. AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!    

Scott

Someone to Devour

1 Peter 5:8 (NIV)  Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Sunday was a beautiful day and Joanne and I decided to go out for a walk. We usually walk for about an hour and we usually walk in town. Now that the park is open, however, we decided to find a carriage path. We didn’t get started until about 3:45, but it was nice so we headed out around Eagle Lake and decided to walk toward Aunt Betty’s Pond. About half-way down the hill (behind Park Headquarters) I asked Joanne if she was in a hurry to get home. She said, “No,” so I suggested we do the whole loop. I’ve done it on my bike many times but have never walked it before. The distance wasn’t a problem, but as the afternoon waned we noticed that we were being joined on our walk by many friendly mosquitoes. As their numbers grew our pace quickened. There was virtually no breeze to keep them away and we hadn’t thought about putting anything on to repel bugs. So with a good 45-60 minutes left we fought the good fight – Joanne swatting with hands and me with my cap – sort of like a horse with his tail. It could have been much worse. They could have been joined by black flies. But it was just the mosquitoes who wanted our company so much. At one point we started jogging in order to escape their relentless, behind-the-head pursuit. They can be very persistent. It’s amazing how many phantom landings (on your body) you feel when they are around, not to mention the genuine ones. Though we did not get many “bites”, we were very glad to finally get back to the car and head home.

Mosquitoes are part of the creation that surrounds us. And, like all living creatures, they would rather survive than not. For them to do so, they need blood from a host. When I looked for synonyms for “mosquito” I found “leech, parasite, tick, vampire”… not a very pleasant group of words. I don’t know many people who would say they like mosquitoes. Such a small creature, but so annoying. And so determined! The high-pitched sound mosquitoes make pales in comparison to the roar of a lion, but it can still drive you crazy. As we made our way through them and got home I thought of Peter’s words “looking for someone to devour”. That felt certainly true with regard to these small creatures. They do not give up. They have no malice or emotion… just a desire to live.

For the most part, mosquitoes – while being annoying – are pretty much harmless, though the diseases they spread can be very serious. But compared to a lion, there is much less to fear. Peter compares the devil to a lion… a hungry lion who cleverly prowls for its victims. To “prowl” is to “move around restlessly and stealthily, especially in search of or as if in search of prey”. This is why Peter cautions alertness. Joanne and I just “walked into it” unthinking, and paid a very small price. To do so with a lion would be the height of foolishness. In a similar way, to ignore the existence and efforts of the enemy of our souls and those who serve him is a foolish thing to do. But it is also foolish to obsess over it in fear. C.S. Lewis’ well known quote from The Screwtape Letters is apropos:  “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.” We have an enemy. But we have a Savior who is greater… a Savior who has defeated our enemy and delivers us daily. A great part of being “alert” is staying close to our Savior and being filled with the Holy Spirit and with the Word of God. Let us encourage one another with the Word of God and pray for each other faithfully.

1 John 4:4 (KJV)  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)  No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Psalm 63:7-10 (NIV) ⁷  Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. ⁸  My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. ⁹  They who seek my life will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth. ¹⁰  They will be given over to the sword and become food for jackals.

Matthew 6:13 (NIV)  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'

PRAYER:  Father, thank you for your gracious protection and your oversight of my soul. You have delivered me from the enemy of my soul through the riches of your grace. You protect me each day and you watch over me. Thank you for brothers and sisters in Christ who help me, for your Word which guides me, for your Spirit who fills me. In Jesus’ name. AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!    

Scott

Cold Hearted

Matthew 24:12-13 (NIV) ¹²  Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, ¹³  but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

            Certain foods are best eaten hot, and others cold. For example, cold or lukewarm coffee turns many people off. They like it hot. Chicken soup that is cold is not as appealing as when it is hot, especially on a raw winter day. When we sit down to a meal, Joanne frequently takes her plate to the microwave because her food has cooled off too much for her liking, and thus lost its appeal. Taste is somewhat like beauty. It is said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If so, then taste is on the tongue (in the mouth) of the eater. What appeals to one person does not necessarily appeal to another. Nevertheless, whatever food a person may be desiring and expecting to be hot… will let that person down if it has grown cold.

            I don’t know how to explain why or how love grows cold. The only thing I can think of is that it was defective from the beginning. By defective I mean that in some way it must have missed the mark of what true love is: a totally other-centered act of one’s will which, while often accompanied by good feelings and desire, does not require them. A love grown cold is ultimately an act of a person’s will. It is something chosen. In today’s culture it is experienced in many relationships, but the one that stands out to me is marriage. There will be those reading this check-in who will understand what I mean in a very personal way. They will know what it is like to have the love of someone – or what you thought was the love of someone – grow cold. When the heart of a spouse becomes hard (whether it results in divorce or not) misery often follows. Rejection, insignificance, hurt and pain, failure, confusion, anger, fear, and sorrow are just a few possible reactions toward one whose love for you has grown cold – in any relationship. In these situations the “why” question looms large in the heart and mind of the one no longer loved.

            As I preached from Matthew 24 last week I didn’t have time to say anything about Jesus’ words in verse 12. But it has been on my mind. Jesus tells the disciples that they will experience a time when so-called believers in Jesus who have claimed to be His followers will turn away from the faith (vs.10). Not only will they turn from faith, they will do terrible things to those who remain faithful to Jesus. How could someone who says they love Jesus be so cruel to a person who loves Jesus? Yet Jesus says His disciples should expect this. And then He says the “love of most will grow cold” (v.12). Who are the “most” – Christians or people of the world? And what kind of love? Love for God? Love for followers of Christ? Or love toward people in general? These are all very good questions – the answers to which Jesus does not specify. My impression is that the answer may be “all of the above”. When a person lives without regard to God – in any way – love (of all kinds) wanes and evil waxes. This is hard to watch in the Body of Christ. It can become apparent in many ways: there is no one manifestation of love grown cold. In His day Charles Spurgeon described it this way…

“If the heart grows cold, everything will be coldly done. When love declines, what cold preaching we have! All moonlight light without heat; polished like marble, and as chill. What cold singing we get, - pretty music, made by pipes and wind, but oh, how little soul-song! - how little singing in the Holy Ghost, making melody in the heart unto God ! And what poor praying! Do you call it praying? What little giving! When the heart is cold, the hands can find nothing in the purse; and Christ's Church, and Christ's poor, and the heathen may perish, for we must needs hoard up for ourselves, and live to grow rich. Is there anything that goes on as it ought to go when love waxes cold?”

            To answer that last question: No, it does not. A love grown cold always has symptoms. These symptoms are observable to others, especially if they are the ones who are (or should be) the objects of the love. If a husband or a wife can observe them… if I, as a pastor, can observe them… if brothers and sisters in Christ can observe them… if our friends can observe them… even if I can sense them in myself… then certainly our Lord can (see Revelation 2:4-5).

            What is the state of your heart today… toward God… toward your spouse, if married… toward other family members… toward others in the church… toward unbelievers? Has your love grown cold in any way? Are there clear symptoms in your life observable to particular people in particular relationships?

            What is the “answer” to love grown cold? I only know of one: remembering and repenting. David, whose departure into wickedness with Bathsheba brought much ruination, is a great example to us. His detour into sin had let His heart become cold toward God. He had forgotten who he was. He had forgotten all the Lord had done for him. You can read what he says after being exposed by the prophet Nathan in Psalm 51. A small excerpt is printed below. May the Lord help you and me whenever and however and wherever our love has grown cold – even just “a little”. May we remember who we are in Christ and all that He has done for us. And may we repent, so that the Lord will restore our hearts to burn for Him and for those He has brought us into relationship with. And may He be glorified.

Revelation 2:4-5 (NIV) ⁴  Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. ⁵  Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

Psalm 51:10 (NIV)  Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Psalm 51:16-17 (NIV) ¹⁶  You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. ¹⁷  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

PRAYER:  Father, as hard as it is for me, please show me where my heart has grown cold – especially toward you. Show me what in my life would be different were my love for you on fire. Expose to me my heart, and grant me grace to remove anything  not burning for you. Lead me to and through repentance so that the zeal of my love for you will return to what it was the first day I knew you and experienced the grace that saves. Show me where my love for others has followed the same path, and kindle within my heart new affections and deeper loves for them. In your mercy hear my prayer. Thank you. In Jesus’ name. AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!    

Scott

Awkward!

Proverbs 17:22 (KJV)  A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Though I did not watch the television presentation of the Academy Awards, I heard that there was an extremely awkward moment at the end of the program when a movie was announced as winning the year’s Best Picture award. The producers and others representing the film came to the stage to begin receiving their awards when it was announced that the wrong picture had been announced. It turned out that the winners were not really the winners. So… the (real) winners felt awkward. The losers who thought they were winners felt awkward. The producers of the television program felt awkward. And the audience felt awkward.

When I was in college I was responsible for doing a ten minute presentation in a chapel service. With about 1200 students and faculty watching, I had the lights dimmed and the audio recording started. When I went to advance the first slide – this was a literal slide in a tray of photos in a slide projector – nothing happened on the screen. I kept pushing  the button and nothing happened. A spotlight came on… on me… on the stage in the dark auditorium. As I kept pushing I’m sure the red flush on my face kept rising and the hotter I felt. It turned out that after my run through practice the night before no one had returned the slide tray to starting point. So the morning of my presentation it was loading nothing but blanks. What a mess! What a failure the whole thing was. People were very kind, but that event was a ten on the “awkward scale” for me. My experience proved that awkward situations typically move quickly to embarrassment and even shame.

Sarah and I had an awkward experience in the office a few weeks ago. We were taking delivery of a new photocopier/printer for the church office and receiving an orientation on how to use it. Unexpectedly, a representative of the company that serviced our previous copier showed up to pick up some left over supplies. We felt like the company that “lost” our business had received an “in your face” moment that we certainly did not want to give them. We believe we have made a good business decision, but that moment was pretty uncomfortable… and unexpected. But it’s one we could laugh at afterwards. As I can about my college experience.

Hopefully, the response of laughter can be at the end of most of our awkward situations. That will be unlikely if we take ourselves too seriously, however. Our pride can leave us mortified if we think we’ve been made to look bad – whether by someone else or by ourselves. Humor can be a great diffuser. As a pretty serious person, I have had a hard time learning that over my lifetime. At my ordination service one of my seminary professors told me, “Scott, don’t take yourself too seriously.” He knew me pretty well. The more seriously we take ourselves (in a prideful way), the harder it is on us to make a mistake and/or worry about looking bad. I think humble people are able to laugh at themselves without fear of looking bad, and thus they are much happier. The more serious we are, the tougher our experience of awkward moments. Of course, that doesn’t mean I favor inappropriate humor on sober occasions. As Solomon wrote, there is a time for everything, and there are people who use humor almost as a defense or as a way to avoid serious things.

God can redeem awkward moments. He does it often through our apologies and our forgiveness, as well as giving us eyes to see the humor in a situation when it is there. Perhaps He can even use them to aid us in learning humility. If so, even an awkward moment He can use for our good. Yahoo News reported the following story last November. It’s a great example of how something good can come out of an awkward situation…

Dialing the wrong phone number can be awkward, embarrassing, and sometimes downright frustrating. When a young man forgot to notify his grandmother of a change in his cell phone number before Thanksgiving, however, the result was touching. Wanda Dench texted a number that had originally been her grandson's, inviting him over for a Thanksgiving meal. Instead of her grandson, the text went to 17 year-old Jamal Hinton.  The two figured out the mistake quickly, but Hinton asked if it was possible to "still get a plate." In grandmotherly fashion, Dench responded, "Of course you can. That's what grandmas do." The story went viral online, perhaps as a hint of joy during such a bitter election season. When asked about the encounter after Thanksgiving, the young man said, "I'm thankful for all the nice people in the world. I never met her … and she welcomed me into her house, so that shows me how great of a person she is."

Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 (NIV) ¹  There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: 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,…

Romans 8:28 (NIV)  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

PRAYER:  Father, bring me to a place where I can find joy in you even in the awkward moments of life. Thank you that they do not keep you from working and, fact, are things through you can work in amazing ways. In Jesus’ name. AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!    

Scott

Putting Winter Away

John 14:1-3 (NIV) ¹  "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. ²  In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. ³  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Today I took in the shovels at my house and put them in the basement. I put the shovels in the church foyer down into the basement level of the building. Do you think that is a bit premature? Some people might think that’s a guaranteed way to insure that it will snow again. That sounds a bit superstitious to me. We have a certainty that Spring will come. We know there will be a day when we can be sure there will be no more snow. But we’re in that time when we cannot be absolutely certain. We are hopeful (I am hopeful, anyway) that no more snow will come and Spring will get underway (regardless of its official date).

The Word of God gives us a certainty that our Lord and Savior is going to return. His own words assure us. But He never gave His followers a date. There seem to be some signs given in the Scriptures, but generations before have thought they had seen the signs, yet Jesus did not return. Some, through the ages, have given up hope that Jesus will return. They wonder where the promise of His coming is. I, for one, am quite ready to put this world away now and see Jesus come in glory. But I am not in charge. And just like I won’t throw my shovels away – because my final Spring may not have come yet (I will put them away for another winter) – I will continue living for the Lord and seeking His will in this world here and now. I will keep my eyes open for His return, but His future return will not lead me to abandon all my responsibilities as His follower in this world. I long to be with Him just like I long for Spring. I’m ready to put away earthly struggles, aches and pains, and the battle with sin and its consequences in this life, just like I’m ready to put away my shovels… to put away winter.

I wonder if this is, in part, a factor of my age. When I was younger I wanted Jesus to wait a while longer before He returned. I had too much living I wanted to do. I still have living that I want to do, but I don’t cling to it like I did when I was younger. When I was younger I loved winter, too. I loved the snow. I have changed. Every year I am eager to put winter away… to put it behind me.

I pray the Lord will always instill in me an eagerness to put this world behind me so that my eyes might be on the glory that will accompany both His return and what follows. A song Andrae Crouch once wrote says, “Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King…” God’s Word encourages each of us to be ready for the return of our Lord. May the prospect of His coming give us joy and lead us to be faithful until that day. AMEN.

Hebrews 10:25 (NIV)  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

James 5:8 (NIV)  You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near.

Matthew 24:44 (NIV)  So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

2 Timothy 4:8 (NIV)  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Titus 2:11-13 (NIV) ¹¹  For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. ¹²  It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, ¹³  while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,

2 Peter 3:9-10 (NIV) ⁹  The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. ¹⁰  But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.

Revelation 22:20 (NIV)  He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

PRAYER:  Father, thank you for the peace that is mine because you never change. Guide me with confidence through any and all of the earthly changes I face, knowing that you are always working for my good. I love you. In Jesus’ name. AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!    

Scott

A Home Without Light Switches

Malachi 3:4-6 (NIV) ⁴  and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the LORD, as in days gone by, as in former years. ⁵  "So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me," says the LORD Almighty. ⁶  "I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.

I was listening to a radio program recently that was describing the “smart home”. You may live in one, or you may soon hear of more people “smartening up” their homes. Smart homes are homes in which there is digital control over anything that depends upon electricity – appliances, garage doors, gas fireplaces, TVs, stereos, security, and lights to name a few. Devices are being marketed that allow the user to simply speak and thus control any device. My son showed me how this worked last week when he demonstrated the use of Alexa, a product of Amazon.com. You speak to Alexa as if “she” was a person and you tell “her” to turn on the living room light and… voila… it comes on. No doubt you have seen “her” commercials on TV. When applied to an entire home, it’s a fascinating concept: everything controlled at the tip of your tongue (voice) or the tip of your fingers (computer) or the use of your smart phone. This radio program discussed a future where homes would not have/need light switches. Wouldn’t that be such a big change for most of us? When you spend your life flicking switches it becomes very unusual not to. I imagine myself reaching for switches on empty walls again and again, having forgotten to just say “lights on”.

My college friends and I used to laugh our heads off whenever we saw the commercial for the “Clapper”. Do you remember those ads? It was a nighttime device designed to control a light (usually in the bedroom) without having to get out of bed by clapping. You could “clap on” or “clap off”. While it was a handy device for certain people in certain circumstances, it just seemed to us to be an excuse for laziness for the average person. But in the years ahead, modern versions of the Clapper will only increase in a society highly devoted to and driven by technology. It will mean higher consumption of electricity (as more home features – plumbing fixtures for example – are electrified) and potential for more crime. The phrase “getting your house hacked” is already a part of modern lingo. Anything digital (controlled by computers) can be hacked. While I don’t see any particular reason someone would hack my refrigerator, the security into my home would be a dangerous target. A home network can serve as a “back door” (pardon the pun) into a computer system, with access to personal documents, financial systems, and anything digital in a person’s life. Yet the features of a smart home are fast becoming highly prized and sought after.

When you are older (like me) you often have a tendency to smile and be dismissive of change. You can think of many aspects of change as being foolish or unnecessary. When you are younger change is much more exciting. Innovation is embraced more readily. Now know those are arbitrary statements and that they are not true across the board. But I think – generally speaking – they are on target. Change, of course, is inevitable. But we know that we serve a God who does not change. He is immutable. We can trust Him to be the same tomorrow – and into the forever future – as He was in the (forever) past. This is a great comfort and encouragement, because He is a God who can be trusted. He is One who never fails. He will always be true to His character and person. He is not just good, for example, He is always good – because He does not change. I find in Him great comfort, because the change in my life (and over the course of my life) can be very stressful and can contribute to worry and fear. But I know that, because God never changes, I do not have to fear. His love for me, His watching over me, His care for me doesn’t ever stop or “go away”.

So, when you find yourself floundering or groping at the switchless walls of life in these changing times… when you are tempted to be afraid or worried when unexpected or unwanted change comes your way… turn your eyes upon Jesus, as the hymn says. “Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace”. You will never go through any change without the Lord’s presence, guidance, and watch care. He is faithful.

Numbers 23:19 (NIV)  God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?

Deuteronomy 7:9 (NIV)  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.

Psalm 90:2 (NIV)  Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

James 1:17 (NIV)  Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Romans 8:28 (NIV)  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

PRAYER:  Father, thank you for the peace that is mine because you never change. Guide me with confidence through any and all of the earthly changes I face, knowing that you are always working for my good. I love you. In Jesus’ name. AMEN.”

Wants or Wills?

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.

When I was a boy my parents always had a Sears catalog in the house. On many a cold winter day I would prop my feet up on the warm radiator in our kitchen, lift the heavy catalog into my lap, and longingly peruse the toy pages. This was long before Sears became an endangered species. Sears was probably the top, or one of the top retailers in the country at that time. That catalog was always at least two inches thick, and though it contained pages and pages of stuff I wasn’t interested in, there were lots devoted to kids’ stuff. And it was the toys and sports equipment that I came back to again and again. I remember my dad passing by me one day and casually asking a question, “Looking at the want book?” He probably never gave it another thought, but (obviously) that question stayed with me. I never thought of it being called that before.

The “want book”. That’s something that is pretty much obsolete today. Now it would be the “want sites” – websites with all the things money can buy and people might want. But it doesn’t matter what format it takes, the principle is the same: we want things. I want things. We are drawn to desire things. I think it’s pretty normal, and I don’t believe it is necessarily “wrong” to want something. The problem is whether or not that wanted thing is in any way in conflict with God’s purpose or plan for me (and for my money). For example, in my life right now I have a want for a particular house (with a specific street address) in South Carolina. I do not believe that it is wrong to want a house. I have never owned one because a parsonage of some sort has always been supplied to me in the churches where I have served. Over the years I have been saving and I hope to be able to buy a home someday. But it is not as simple as just wanting this house. For one thing, it is not for sale. For another thing, if it did go on the market, it might end up being with a price beyond what I could pay or should pay (or try to pay). It’s a modest home by MDI standards. But that’s not the point. While wanting something is not necessarily wrong, we all know it can become wrong if it is not tempered by, or surrendered to, the will of God. For example, if something bad had to happen to the current occupants of the house (who are unknown to me), I would NOT want the house. Or if purchasing the house was a step of bad judgment (risky or foolish in some way), I would not want the want to overtake the wisdom that would serve me better.

So what do I do? What do you or I do anytime we have a want of any kind? I pray. I surrender my want – whatever it may be - to God’s will. And as I walk with Christ I seek to do this with every single want that comes before my eyes or pops into my head. And the world surrounds me with a barrage of wants every day. Many of these are simply not attractive to me. But I am attracted to others. Of those, some are unrealistic, so I can fairly easily pass them by. But if I’m faced with something reachable, then I know that it has the power to take over my imagination and occupy my thought life for long stretches of time. How much easier and better it is just to pray, “Lord, I surrender this want to your will. May your will be done. And let me be happy in your will.” That is a prayer that God always responds to, because it puts Him first and trusts Him. Yet I don’t necessarily pray it easily. And I may need to convince myself that my heart is really with the Lord’s will before I will convince God. But I think He rejoices – and I know He is glorified – when my wants are surrendered to Him.

So I am learning to surrender my “wants” to His “wills” – to “unwant” what I want and to want His will. Because that is where the joy is: ultimate, deep, satisfying, restful joy. May I – and you – learn this more and more, until it becomes the natural bent of our hearts. Thank You, Lord.

1 Timothy 6:6-10 (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. ⁹  People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Proverbs 15:16-17 (NIV) ¹⁶  Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth with turmoil. ¹⁷  Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred.

Exodus 20:17 (NIV)  "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

Matthew 6:31-34 (NIV) ³¹  So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ³²  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.  

PRAYER:  Father, thy kingdom come, thy will be done. May it be so in my life, and in the lives of my children and grandchildren and all whom they love. And may you get much glory from me in and through what you provide, and what you withhold. And may nothing I have or don’t have rob me of joy in you, my Savior, Redeemer, and friend. AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!    

Scott