Monday, August 30, 2010

Grief 5

Hear, O LORD, and have mercy on me.  LORD, be my helper.  You have turned my mourning into dancing for me.  You have put off my sackcloth and surrounded me with gladness.   Psalm 30:10-11

Two things that are not a part of our vocabulary when we are in the midst of grief: dancing and gladness.

As a matter of fact, those things seem so far away when our souls are aching that it seems absolutely impossible to even conceive that we might even feel like dancing again.  That we might have gladness in our hearts again.

Well, that's what happens when God's mercy gets involved in our lives; when He comes to help us.

The real trick is to not let the Evil One convince us that this grief we're experiencing will never go away.  That the clouds will never lift and the sun will never rise.  It is difficult to avoid thinking those things when our heart is breaking.

But God will be faithful.  He promises that to us when we cling to Him. 

And just the thought of His great love for us, when we really ponder it, when we really spend time with it...can make us feel like dancing.

What is your take on these verses?

Grief 4

Blessed are You, God, even the Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, Father of mercies and ther God of all comfort.  You comfort me in all my tribulation, that I may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble by the comfort with which I myself am comforted by You.   2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Pay It Forward.  That was the title of a movie with Kevin Spacey and Helen Hunt in which a young boy (Haley Joel Osment) comes up with this concept of paying forward to others good deeds that are done to you.

That concept is far from originating in that movie.  God came up with it before anyone walked on the earth.

When we're in the middle of grief, God's comfort is the only comfort that will last.  And yet He isn't content with our pain subsiding.  He then wants us to be instruments of comfort to others around us who are also in need.

In other words, God calls us to be the hands and feet of Jesus to people we come in contact with.  Why?

Because He started it with us.

What are your thoughts on this passage?

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Grief 3

You will swallow up death in victory, and You, Lord GOD, will wipe away tears from all faces...for You, LORD, have spoken it.   Isaiah 25:8

That middle part.  The wipe away all tears part.  That almost seems more comforting to us than the swallow up death in victory part.

Why is that?

Well, we almost take for granted that in the end, God wins.  We've heard that so many times that sometimes we lose the magnitude of it.

But the wiping away of all tears?  That's life now.  Here.  On this earth.  One day brings joy and happiness and the next brings grief and sorrow.  And we often don't have any control over either one.  Or in some cases, our own behavior brings our tears.

So to think that one day, there will be no more tears, brings a deep sense of comfort that nothing else can. 

You know why that's true?

Because of that last part.  The You have spoken it part.

How does this passage strike you?

Friday, August 27, 2010

Grief 2

A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice...   Isaiah 42:3
 
Have you ever been taken advantage of?  Dumb question.  If you breathe, you've been taken advantage of.  Everyone hates it when that happens, but I think it is even worse when someone kicks a person when they're already down.  It can be devastating.
 
God's assurance here that He will not allow His people to be pushed beyond their endurance level is one of the most powerful promises in scripture.  It goes well with what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:13 about God being faithful to us and not allowing us to be tempted beyond what we can bear.
 
Check out the way Eugene Peterson translates this passage from Isaiah in The Message:
He won't brush aside the bruised and the hurt and he won't disregard the small and insignificant, but he'll steadily and firmly set things right.
 
That's a promise we can count on.
 
What does this scripture bring to mind for you?

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Vacation!

The blog has had the past week off, but it is back with post number 2 on Grief coming tomorrow...

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Relying on God when dealing with grief

He was despised and rejected of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.  Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried...   Isaiah 53:3-4

Any conversation about grief has to start from the bottom-line reference point of Christ.  There really can be no meaningful discussion of the topic without addressing the suffering of Christ.

I wonder what it must have felt like for Jesus to read scripture like this and know they were talking about Him?  The verses that precede and follow these are no better.  Actually, they are worse.

This passage is in God's Word for who-knows-how-many-reasons.  However, I can't imagine that one of them wouldn't be to remind us when we are living in the pit, that He has walked where we're walking.  He has hurt where we're hurting.  He has grieved where we're grieving.  He has wept where we're weeping.

Does that take the pain and suffering away?  Of course not.  Does it give new perspective for our lives?

Of course. 

If we let it.

What is your response to this passage?

Finances 7

A life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump; a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree.   Proverbs 11:28  

Everything in life is relative, isn't it?

One man appears to be filthy rich to another, but to yet another, he looks poor.  One woman's car is nicer than some people's cars, but not as nice as others.  One kid's toys are better than some of his friends, but not as good as others.

There is always someone who has more and nicer and shinier things than we do, isn't there?  And then there is always someone who has less than we do.  Right?

If we know this, why do allow ourselves to get caught up in materialism that throws us into the slavery of debt and steals our opportunities to serve others?

I guess it goes back to our human nature.  When we feed our selfish, self-centered side, it always asks for more.  It is never, ever satisfied.

But when we feed our Christ-like nature, it has an incredible result.

It fills our souls.

How do you feel about this scripture?

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Finances 6

Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.   Psalm 37:3

Trust.  It all ends up coming back down to trust, doesn't it?

We can talk about generosity and prosperity and priorities, but at the end of the day, it all comes down to trust.  As in, who are you going to?

As fallen human beings, even in our best moments, we have a hard time getting this passage in the right order.  First comes trust and good works and the result is dwelling in the land and enjoying safe pasture.  The King James translation renders "safe pasture" as "you will be fed."

Our typical order is to go be fed, assure ourselves and our loved ones of safety and then we'll trust in the LORD and do good. 

In other words, "Me first, then You, God."

But if we truly trust God's hand at work in our lives, we can throw ourselves in His care, being His hands and feet wherever we find ourselves and be confident of His provision for us.

Trust in the Lord and don't lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight.

What does this verse say to you?

Monday, August 16, 2010

Finances 5

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."   Luke 6:38

Generosity, take 2.

Here's a different way to look at generosity.  It's a formula.  When we're generous, we'll receive generosity.  When we're not, we won't.

God seems to work this way often, doesn't He? 

Certainly Jesus taught that way.  He said that when we forgive, we'll be forgiven.  If we don't, we won't.

Same goes for mercy.  When we show mercy, we'll be shown mercy.  If we don't, we won't.

All of us want to act out of the kindness and purity of our hearts, don't we?  Our biggest problem is that we're human and we don't always do what we should or think how we should.

So sometimes God compels us.  Why?  To be harsh? 

No. 

Because He thinks it is that important to be generous.

How do you feel about this verse?

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Finances 4

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.  But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.   Psalm 1:1-3

Prosperity. 

There are a whole lot of preachers out there proclaiming the good news that God wants you to be rich.  And they're not talking about Heaven.  They're talking about right now, here on this earth.  And if you're not, you may (probably) have a faith issue.

Hmmmm....

What about the poor widow gave two small coins (all that she had) and was commended by Jesus?  No record of her driving up in a new chariot the next day.

What about the man who already was rich?  Didn't Jesus tell him to give away his possessions and focus on heaven instead?  No record of him doing so, only Jesus' remarks about how hard it is for a rich person to go to heaven.

Prosperity is a strange thing.  As a matter of fact, it is totally a perspective thing.  If we are in a mindset of this world being the end-all, then it makes sense that we would want as much as we could get while we're here.

But if we believe God's promises of a better place; a far, far better place where there will be no such thing as moving trucks, then prosperity takes on a whole new meaning.

And it has nothing to do with money.

What are your thoughts on this passage?

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Finances 3

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave Him up for us all--how will he not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?   Romans 8:32

Generosity.

We're interesting creatures when it comes to generosity.  We are almost unwavering generous when it comes to opportunities to spend other people's money, but not so much when it comes to spending what has been put in our own care.

Recent studies have shown that half of the people in the United States who claim Christ as their Savior give nothing on an annual basis to the church they attend.  For the 50% who do give to their congregation, the average is 2% - 4% of their income.

I'm not trying to make a point that we need to give a higher number per se.  But it does become pretty clear by looking at the numbers that God and humans have different ideas when it comes to generosity.

What does this scripture say to you?

Friday, August 13, 2010

Finances 2

Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.   Proverbs 3:9-10

One of the hardest lessons for us to learn in life is the principle of giving our firstfruits.

Why is that?  Basically, because people tend to be selfish.  People like the fact that God has blessed them; they sometimes tell Him thank you and then they tend to wrap their arms tightly around that blessing, not really wanting to share it with anyone, including The One who blessed them with it.

Does that remind you of anything?

Like how children act sometimes?

No wonder we struggle so much.  When God blesses us richly, then asks us to give back to Him off the top instead tossing Him whatever might be leftover, our true character shines through.

Why do we tend to buck God, even when He promises He will bless us even more if we'll give our firstfruits to Him?

Could it have anything to do with trust?  Or selfishness?

It is a hallmark of maturity in Christ to give of our firstfruits and be very generous with the things and money God has put in our possession.

How do these verses strike you?

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Relying on God when dealing with finances

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

Priorities.

We can't have any meaningful discussion on finances without talking about priorities.  We've all heard the old adage about being able to tell where our true priorities lie, regardless of what we say, by looking at our checkbook and calendar.

How would our checkbook look differently than it does now if we were truly seeking God's righteousness above everything else?  How would our calendar look differently than it does now if we were truly running after God's kingdom?

There is no way to live life without priorities.  They are either clearly articulated or they are ignored (which is still establishing priorities), but life is always lived through priorities.

Our biggest problem is that, by ignoring the teaching of this verse, we really are only robbing ourselves.

What does this verse say to you?

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Doubt 7

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.  When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.   Matthew 28:16-17

After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, the religious leaders decided to kill Him.

Read that sentence again.  It is a sentence that should make absolutely no sense whatsoever.  Yet it isn't a misprint.

AFTER Jesus pulled off the most impossible of miracles; bringing a man back to life who had been dead for four days, His opponents didn't fall to their knees in praise or worship or submission.  They set their collective jaw against the Creator of the Universe and His Son.  They were so blinded by their own hatred, they ignored irrefutable proof of Jesus' claims.

Amazing.

What's more amazing, though, might be the reaction of His disciples.  After everything they had been through with Christ, some of them still couldn't get their head around two things: the fact that Jesus was standing with them after being tortured and murdered and all the implications that fact carried with it.

Before we come down too hard on the disciples, let's remember our own struggles with faith.

"Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of Me." - Jesus

What are your thoughts on this scripture?

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Doubt 6

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.   1 John 5:13

It is so difficult to believe in something we cannot only not see now, but that we've never seen.  Doubt takes root quickly in those circumstances.

I'll tell you what I have seen, though. 

I've seen a sunset so breathtaking that no person's painting or photographs could ever do it justice.

I've seen people run to help folks they don't even know when disaster strikes.

I've seen an ant carry a piece of food that is several times it's own size and weight.

I've seen a thunderstorm roll in that rattled all the windows in our house.

I've witnessed childbirth.

God's fingerprints are all over the world, clearly visible in our everyday lives.  If we'll only slow down and look for them.

What does this scripture make you think of?

Doubt 5

Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."  Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"  Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."   John 20:27-29

Those who haven't seen. 

That would be us.  All of us.  And God's call to each of us, regardless of our lot in life at the moment, is to stop doubting and believe.

Sometimes the only reason we really struggle is because our eyes can't see and our ears can't hear.  But that isn't God's fault.  It is our own spiritual immaturity.  God wants to bless us.  Are we throwing out a roadblock of doubt?

What is your reaction to this passage?

Doubt 4

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.  But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.   James 1:5-7

Wisdom is an interesting thing. 

How can you tell how much wisdom a person has?  Can a man be partially wise?  Can a woman possess some wisdom in some areas, but none in others? 

In many ways, wisdom falls into the category of the old phrase, "I can't define it, but I know it when I see it."

True wisdom comes from one source and one source alone: The Creator of the Universe.  And the amazing thing is that He desperately desires to lay it on us.

But there's a catch.  There's one condition that absolutely, positively will blow any chance of us ever gaining Godly wisdom.  The dealbreaker on receiving wisdom is...doubt.  God won't send His wisdom on us if we doubt Him.

Sounds easy, right?  Wrong.  We all know better.

Earnestly seek His face today.  Beg Him for wisdom.  Ask Him to forgive all doubt and take it far, far away.

And be transformed.  How will people know when you've been transformed?  Well, they won't be able to describe it, but they'll know it when they see it.

What are your thoughts on this passage?

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Doubt 3

Believe in the LORD your God, so shall you be established; believe His prophets, so shall you prosper.   2 Chronicles 20:20

What is your idea of personal prosperity?

Of course, we all know the world's ideas...power, position, possessions.  But that description probably didn't fit very many of the prophets, if any.  These were guys who lived hard lives speaking truth, enduring torture and succumbing to murder.  They weren't talking about the world's kind of prosperity.

What then?

Well, if we are established - planted, rooted - by believing in God, then the things that are important to God are the things that will be important to us.

Prosperity for the believer has to do with relationships with others and service to others.  Ultimately, it ends up square in the middle of love for others. 

Doubt festers when we become fixated on ourselves.  Prosperity comes when we become fixated on the LORD.

What impresses you about this verse?

Friday, August 6, 2010

Doubt 2

"'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."   Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"   Mark 9:23-24

What do you believe in most fervently?  The stock market has let everyone down in the past couple of years, so we really can't believe in that.  How about our talents or gifts?  Well, they may serve us well for a number of years, but they'll eventually fail us, without fail.  That's what Brett Favre is wrestling with right now.

But what about friends or family?  The people we're closest to and love the most?  Nope.  They all, regardless of how incredible they are, have a fundamental flaw: they are human.  They will let us down at some point.  We really can't put our belief in them either.

As a matter of fact, there is no person or thing on this earth we can unconditionally believe in.  Including ourselves.  We really are our own worst enemy in some ways.

Our answer to the initial question would be God, the Creator of the Universe.  And of course, that's the right answer.

But what keeps us from living like it? 

Or maybe the better question is, what are we missing out on in our lives by believing in anything or anyone else?

What do you think about this scripture?

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Relying on God when wrestling with doubt

Faith comes by hearing the Good News and people hear the Good News when someone tells them about Christ.   Romans 10:17

Doubt and faith.  Polar opposites.

Have you ever been wandering around in a wooded area and lost your bearings?  That horrible feeling of not knowing which way home is?  Or maybe you've seen the scene in a movie in which someone is lost in a desert and has no clue which way to go to get to civilization. 

That feeling of not being able to trust in what you know is very frightening.  Because when we've wandered away from what is known to us, our bearings are lost and we become helpless.

Doubt creeps in when we veer away from home base.  The further we drift from an active relationship with our Creator, the more doubt will seep into our heart, mind and soul.

Relationship with God is the antidote to doubt.

What kind of impression do you get from this passage?

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Discouragement 7

He does not ignore those in trouble. He doesn’t hide from them but listens when they call out to him.  LORD, I praise you in the great meeting of your people...   Psalm 22:24-25

When battling discouragement, it is easy to feel isolated and alone.  And that starts a vicious cycle that drives us deeper and deeper into negative thoughts and isolating ourselves.

And the last thing we can sense in those times is God's presence.

But the great thing about God is that He promises just the opposite of what we perceive.  He promises not to ignore us, but to listen to us when we call out to Him.

And our response is praise.

But what if we started the praise part early?  What if we decided we were going to start praising Him even before our struggle is resolved?  What would we call that?

We would call that...faith.

How does this passage strike you?

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Discouragement 6

Delight yourself also in Me, your LORD, and I will give you the desires of your heart.   Psalm 37:4

Desires. What things do we deeply desire?

Well, most people have a set of things they'd like to have: new car, new or upgraded home, etc.  And then we usually have a bucket list, either in our head or written down, of places we'd like to go and things we'd like to do before our time on earth ends.

But what do we deeply desire?  If we deeply desire the items listed above, then we're in trouble.  Spiritual trouble.

At our core, what our God desires most for us is to be in relationship with him.  So the more that our deepest desires shift toward having a relationship with God, not just knowing facts about Him, but KNOWING Him, the more we will delight ourselves in Him.  And the more we delight ourselves in Him, the more our deepest desires will move toward being in a relationship with Him.

And that would be at the top of our bucket lists; number one with a bullet.

What do you think about this scripture?

Monday, August 2, 2010

Discouragement 5

I will remember the years of Your right hand, most High.  I will remember Your works, LORD.  Surely I will remember Your wonders of old.  I will meditate also on Your work and talk of Your doings.  Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary.  Who is so great a God as our God?  You are the God who does wonders.  You have declared Your strength among the people.   Psalm 77:10-14

When discouragement swallows us, we neglect a fundamental issue with God: remembrance.  God is a God of remembrance. 

Throughout scripture, over and over we are instructed to remember.  Remember what the Lord your God has done for you.  Remember where He has led you out of.  Remember His mercies toward you.  Remember His undying, unfading love for you.

Remember.

Unfortunately, when we slide into discouragement, we tend to forget.  When we do so, it is far worse than just not thinking of specific ways He has come through for us. 

It is forgetting who He is.

What do you think of when you read this passage?

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Discouragement 4

Because I have set my love upon You, You will deliver me.  You will set me on high, because I have known Your name.  I call on You, and You will answer me.  You will be with me in trouble; You will deliver and honor me.   Psalm 91:14-15

Dead center.

Have you ever thought about what is dead center in your life?  Seems like a cliche question until we consider that how we live from moment to moment actually answers it truthfully for us, regardless of what words we might use to answer it.

How many times have we made the statement, "Well, I guess all we can do now is pray"?  That answer betrays where our heart is.  It says that God is a last resort after we've tried everything else.

When we wrestle with discouragement, it usually means we've tried everything we can try and have failed.  We've used every weapon in our arsenal and come up short.

The Psalmist tells us what we already know.  Dead center is not us.  Dead center is God the Creator.

Our problem is not in the knowledge.  It is in the application.

What are your thoughts on these verses?