As a result of the series we just completed at church, "If God Is Good ...," I began reading the book with the same title written by Randy Alcorn. Today I wanted to share some of the initial insights I have learned in the first few chapters.
As you might expect, the book has to deal with difficult situations. If you follow this blog, you know that in recent posts I've been writing about personal struggles my lovely bride and I have been enduring recently. Quite probably due to my current situation, the early pages of Mr. Alcorn's book seem to resonate deeply with my soul.
On page 12 he wrote: "If you base your faith on lack of affliction, your faith lives on the brink of extinction and will fall apart because of a frightening diagnosis or a shattering phone call. Token faith will not survive suffering, nor should it."
That kind of slaps you in the face, doesn't it? If your faith isn't tested, how can you know if it is real? Well, I have to say, having lived deep in the muck of life for the past who knows how long, I have to say my faith is real. Each day I wake up knowing there is a God, knowing he is in control, and knowing he has conquered death. My faith is real.
Turning to page 14 we read: "I never expected that a Christian who had access to God could feel so empty and alone." This describes someone who was crying out to God in the midst of their difficulties, and yet felt alone. It kind of sounds like Psalm 10:1, "Lord, why are you so far away? Why do you hide when there is trouble?" (New Century Version)
What about Psalm 44:23-24, NCV: "Wake up, Lord! Why are you sleeping? Get up! Don't reject us forever. Why do you hide from us? Have you forgotten our pain and troubles?"
What about when you are feeling like God has abandoned you, does that mean you are in too deep, that you've lost your faith? Habakkuk felt like he was. In Habakkuk 1:2-3 we read, "How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds." (NIV)
I think the proof your faith is real is despite feeling abandoned, you still cry out to God. Why would I cry out to someone in whom I didn't have faith? If I'd lost my faith, wouldn't I start looking elsewhere for answers at the moment I truly felt abandoned? If I simply went back to the same god out of convenience, despite feeling neglected and alone, wouldn't that pretty much make me hopeless?
So, God shows me my faith is real by allowing bad things to enter my life. Sometimes, in the midst of those times, I feel abandoned. My response at that moment determines if my faith is real.
If my faith is proven true, then what? In Jeremiah 32:42 we read: "This is what the Lord says: Just as I have brought all these calamities on them, so I will do all the good I have promised them." (New Living Translation) God allowed calamities to enter our lives, but when we rise above them, showing our faith is true, we have his promises of good to look forward to as well.
Unfortunately, sometimes that good isn't realized in this world, but that is another blog post. I want to leave you with one final thought from Randy Alcorn's book. On page 38, having just described several situations where Christ followers had endured difficult situations, including death of loved ones, Randy says: "We need only read Scripture, look around us, or live long enough in order to learn that trusting God doesn't ward off all evil and suffering. He never said it would." (emphasis copied)
We will face trouble in this world. How we handle those times determines whether we are in too deep.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
Tough Words to Hear
Yesterday morning as I sat in church and listened to the final installment in the "If God is Good..." series, I was reminded of the old song, "He Never Promised Us a Rose Garden."
"God is far more interested in my character than He is interested in my comfort," Mike Breaux told us. He quoted James 1:2-4, which in the New Living Translation reads: "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing."
How's that for encouragement from the brother of Jesus and my pastor? You want your faith to be stronger? Well, then you need to be tested!
Looking back over the past few years, I'm guessing my lovely bride and I have some pretty beefy faith "muscles." We've endured much in these past few years. While I don't know why, like I recently said in my "Mountain of God" post, I certainly hope the glories of the mountain far outweigh the pain and suffering we currently endure!
Mike further said, "Suffering cultivates humility and draws us into closer relationship with God." Look at Ephesians 3:16-19: "I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God." (NLT)
Isn't that just like the Christian experience? We want to be close to God, so He allows suffering and turmoil to come into our lives. We want to have a stronger understanding of love, so God introduces us to the move unlovable, difficult people known to man. We pray for patience and God sends trials and tribulations. Everything is opposite in God's economy. However, in case you think you can outsmart God and pray for poverty so He will send you wealth, we were reminded yesterday about God's economy as well.
The story goes a man was talking to God one day and said, "God, is it true that to you a minute is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a minute?"
"Yes," God responded.
"And so I would imagine," the man continued, "a penny is like a million dollars and a million dollars is like a penny."
"Yes," God replied.
"Well," then asked the man, "God, can I have one of your pennies?"
"In a minute," God said.
Hebrews 13:5 tells us: "Don’t love money. Be happy with what you have because God has said, “I will never abandon you or leave you." (God's Word Translation)
We cannot understand in this life the whys to many of the issues we face. Mike showed us yesterday that suffering prepares us for eternity and the suffering and hardships of this world are but temporary nuisances. II Corinthians 4:17-18 reads: "For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever." (NLT)
Do I enjoy hearing suffering is part of this world, and through suffering we are given the opportunity to draw closer to God? Do I enjoy knowing that each day I may have to endure more, not knowing the end game, other than heaven awaits? Do I find comfort knowing I am not alone in my suffering, it is common to all mankind?
Of course not! I need to believe that C.S. Lewis truly understood when he said, "That is what mortals misunderstand. They say of some temporal suffering, 'No future bliss can make up for it,' not knowing that Heaven, once attained, will work backwards and turn even that agony into a glory."
Take heart, my friends; as bad as your suffering now seems, Heaven awaits! Whatever things we endure on this earth, we have God's promise that He will never leave us (Hebrews 13:5b, above) and in the end, we will live with Him eternally.
Is that enough hope while I'm stuck in the middle of turmoil? I don't know. All I can do is continue to move forward, one day at a time, and hold on to Jesus.
"Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so." Simple words, and yet so powerful! Even in the depths of your darkest despair, hold on to Jesus, hold on to His truth, hold on to His love!
"God is far more interested in my character than He is interested in my comfort," Mike Breaux told us. He quoted James 1:2-4, which in the New Living Translation reads: "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing."
How's that for encouragement from the brother of Jesus and my pastor? You want your faith to be stronger? Well, then you need to be tested!
Looking back over the past few years, I'm guessing my lovely bride and I have some pretty beefy faith "muscles." We've endured much in these past few years. While I don't know why, like I recently said in my "Mountain of God" post, I certainly hope the glories of the mountain far outweigh the pain and suffering we currently endure!
Mike further said, "Suffering cultivates humility and draws us into closer relationship with God." Look at Ephesians 3:16-19: "I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God." (NLT)
Isn't that just like the Christian experience? We want to be close to God, so He allows suffering and turmoil to come into our lives. We want to have a stronger understanding of love, so God introduces us to the move unlovable, difficult people known to man. We pray for patience and God sends trials and tribulations. Everything is opposite in God's economy. However, in case you think you can outsmart God and pray for poverty so He will send you wealth, we were reminded yesterday about God's economy as well.
The story goes a man was talking to God one day and said, "God, is it true that to you a minute is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a minute?"
"Yes," God responded.
"And so I would imagine," the man continued, "a penny is like a million dollars and a million dollars is like a penny."
"Yes," God replied.
"Well," then asked the man, "God, can I have one of your pennies?"
"In a minute," God said.
Hebrews 13:5 tells us: "Don’t love money. Be happy with what you have because God has said, “I will never abandon you or leave you." (God's Word Translation)
We cannot understand in this life the whys to many of the issues we face. Mike showed us yesterday that suffering prepares us for eternity and the suffering and hardships of this world are but temporary nuisances. II Corinthians 4:17-18 reads: "For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever." (NLT)
Do I enjoy hearing suffering is part of this world, and through suffering we are given the opportunity to draw closer to God? Do I enjoy knowing that each day I may have to endure more, not knowing the end game, other than heaven awaits? Do I find comfort knowing I am not alone in my suffering, it is common to all mankind?
Of course not! I need to believe that C.S. Lewis truly understood when he said, "That is what mortals misunderstand. They say of some temporal suffering, 'No future bliss can make up for it,' not knowing that Heaven, once attained, will work backwards and turn even that agony into a glory."
Take heart, my friends; as bad as your suffering now seems, Heaven awaits! Whatever things we endure on this earth, we have God's promise that He will never leave us (Hebrews 13:5b, above) and in the end, we will live with Him eternally.
Is that enough hope while I'm stuck in the middle of turmoil? I don't know. All I can do is continue to move forward, one day at a time, and hold on to Jesus.
"Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so." Simple words, and yet so powerful! Even in the depths of your darkest despair, hold on to Jesus, hold on to His truth, hold on to His love!
Saturday, July 17, 2010
The Mountain of God
My wife asked me the other night what book of the Bible I am reading now, and I told her I had just started the book of Judges.
"Oh, what a tough book," she replied.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because it is the same thing over and over again. The people turn away from God, they are oppressed, a new judge is raised up, they overcome their enemies, and then live in peace for a while," was her response.
"Well, you missed a step," I said. "Someone has to cry out to God and repent before He raises up a deliver."
It is a very simplistic overview of the book, but basically that is what happens. It kind of reminds me of the song "Mountain of God" by Third Day.
Just like the Israelite nation of old, we live in a cycle, and the succession from highs to lows often affects our view of God. Right now, my lovely bride and I are in a valley. We have been living in this valley for a very, very long time. I can only hope that when we finally reach the Mountain of God it will far outshine the pain, agony, and turmoil we are currently enduring. Right now, where we are standing, I don't see how anything can supplant this misery; but I have to hold on to the truth "God is faithful."
Why are we in this valley? Why, despite striving each day to live for God, to serve God, and to honor God do we face financial, emotional, and spiritual conflict? I don't know. Yet for some reason God needs us to endure this time, for a season, so we can be ready for the next great thing to which He has called us.
Whether you are in a valley or have finally reached the Mountain of God, remember, God is there with you, He is there with you!
"Oh, what a tough book," she replied.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because it is the same thing over and over again. The people turn away from God, they are oppressed, a new judge is raised up, they overcome their enemies, and then live in peace for a while," was her response.
"Well, you missed a step," I said. "Someone has to cry out to God and repent before He raises up a deliver."
It is a very simplistic overview of the book, but basically that is what happens. It kind of reminds me of the song "Mountain of God" by Third Day.
I thought that I was all alone, broken and afraid, but you were there with me, you were there with me. And I didn't even know I had lost my way, but you were there with me, yes, you were there with me. Tell you opened up my eyes I never knew, that I couldn't ever make it without you.
Chorus:
Even though the journey's long, and I know the road is hard. Well the one who's gone before me, He will help me carry on. And after all that I've been through, now I realize the truth that I must go through the valley to stand upon the Mountain of God.
As I travel on the road, you have led me down, you are here with me, yes, you are here with me. And I have need for nothing more, oh, now that I have found that you are here with me, yes, you are here with me. I confess from time to time I lose my way, but you were always there to bring me back again.
~chorus~
Bridge:
Sometimes I think of where it is I've come from, and the things I've left behind. Well, of all I've had, what I posess, they can't quite compare, with what's in front of me, with what's in front of me.
Even though the journey's long, and I know the road is hard, well, the one who's gone before me, He will help me carry on. And after all that I've been through, now I realize the truth that I must go through the valley, to stand upon the mountain. . . well, I must go through the valley, to stand upon the mountain. . . yes, I must go through the valley, to stand upon the mountain of God.
I thought that I was all alone, broken and afraid, but you are here with me, you are here with me.
Just like the Israelite nation of old, we live in a cycle, and the succession from highs to lows often affects our view of God. Right now, my lovely bride and I are in a valley. We have been living in this valley for a very, very long time. I can only hope that when we finally reach the Mountain of God it will far outshine the pain, agony, and turmoil we are currently enduring. Right now, where we are standing, I don't see how anything can supplant this misery; but I have to hold on to the truth "God is faithful."
Why are we in this valley? Why, despite striving each day to live for God, to serve God, and to honor God do we face financial, emotional, and spiritual conflict? I don't know. Yet for some reason God needs us to endure this time, for a season, so we can be ready for the next great thing to which He has called us.
Whether you are in a valley or have finally reached the Mountain of God, remember, God is there with you, He is there with you!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
For What Are You Training?
If you read my blog from yesterday, you know I have once again started running, training for an upcoming 5k here in Lexington, Kentucky. For 26 years, people have been lining up in downtown Lexington to be part of this run, which generally starts in the late evening, hopefully making it slightly cooler during race time.
My lovely bride participated in the run a few years ago, but I have not done any running in our nearly 9 years in Lexington. As I mentioned yesterday, my impetus for taking up running again was the Lexington Leadership Foundation's (www.lexlf.org) Team LLF (www.teamllf.com), which recently completed their first race on July 3, 2010.
As I was out training again this morning, my mind wandered to the goal of Team LLF; to mobilize the body of Christ in an effort to increase our level of faith and fitness. This got my mind thinking about the times the Apostle Paul used sports metaphors when referencing the spiritual journey.
I Corinthians 9:24-27 (God's Word Translation) Don’t you realize that everyone who runs in a race runs to win, but only one runner gets the prize? Run like them, so that you can win. Everyone who enters an athletic contest goes into strict training. They do it to win a temporary crown, but we do it to win one that will be permanent. So I run—but not without a clear goal ahead of me. So I box—but not as if I were just shadow boxing. Rather, I toughen my body with punches and make it my slave so that I will not be disqualified after I have spread the Good News to others.
It is only when we are disciplined that we will find success. If I want to complete the 5k this August, or had I been part of the recent 10k on July 3rd, I would need to be in training. To achieve success, I need to train. While training, I need to have goals.
Paul also talked about setting goals and how they relate to the Christian experience.
Philippians 3:10-14 (New Century Version) I want to know Christ and the power that raised him from the dead. I want to share in his sufferings and become like him in his death. Then I have hope that I myself will be raised from the dead. I do not mean that I am already as God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal, but I continue trying to reach it and to make it mine. Christ wants me to do that, which is the reason he made me his. Brothers and sisters, I know that I have not yet reached that goal, but there is one thing I always do. Forgetting the past and straining toward what is ahead, I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize for which God called me through Christ to the life above.
If I want to know Christ and the power that raised him from the dead, I need to daily set my goals and then strain to achieve those goals. Just as I now have a goal of being ready for the 5k on August 14, 2010, I need to also have a spiritual goal. Will daily Bible reading and prayer help me better understand Christ and the power that raised him from the dead? It will help, but there should be more. Not only should I read and pray, I must then enact what I have learned in my daily life.
Just like simply getting up and running each morning is a good form of exercise, if I don't ever enter a race, I simply have a healthy body. How many Christians are walking around today with a terrific understanding of the Bible, having read it each day, but have yet to put it into practice? They are like athletes who only train and never compete. I believe that when you understand that training is good, but it is only when you have set a goal and then put everything into achieving that goal, putting all of your training into practice, that you achieve personal satisfaction. Sometimes, you also receive a prize!
How are you doing? Are you training with no intent of ever getting into competition? Are you reading your Bible, praying, and simply staying on the sidelines? What is keeping you from stepping into action? God loves spending time with us, but that time should compel us to become more Christ-like, and that means that we have to get dirty. Jesus touched the leapers, he lived with the poor and needy, and he ate with tax collectors. In doing so, Jesus changed the world.
The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to us today, we simply have to train and then put ourselves in the place God sends us. The power is His to give or deny. It is up to us to be sure to be ready when the time comes.
My lovely bride participated in the run a few years ago, but I have not done any running in our nearly 9 years in Lexington. As I mentioned yesterday, my impetus for taking up running again was the Lexington Leadership Foundation's (www.lexlf.org) Team LLF (www.teamllf.com), which recently completed their first race on July 3, 2010.
As I was out training again this morning, my mind wandered to the goal of Team LLF; to mobilize the body of Christ in an effort to increase our level of faith and fitness. This got my mind thinking about the times the Apostle Paul used sports metaphors when referencing the spiritual journey.
I Corinthians 9:24-27 (God's Word Translation) Don’t you realize that everyone who runs in a race runs to win, but only one runner gets the prize? Run like them, so that you can win. Everyone who enters an athletic contest goes into strict training. They do it to win a temporary crown, but we do it to win one that will be permanent. So I run—but not without a clear goal ahead of me. So I box—but not as if I were just shadow boxing. Rather, I toughen my body with punches and make it my slave so that I will not be disqualified after I have spread the Good News to others.
It is only when we are disciplined that we will find success. If I want to complete the 5k this August, or had I been part of the recent 10k on July 3rd, I would need to be in training. To achieve success, I need to train. While training, I need to have goals.
Paul also talked about setting goals and how they relate to the Christian experience.
Philippians 3:10-14 (New Century Version) I want to know Christ and the power that raised him from the dead. I want to share in his sufferings and become like him in his death. Then I have hope that I myself will be raised from the dead. I do not mean that I am already as God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal, but I continue trying to reach it and to make it mine. Christ wants me to do that, which is the reason he made me his. Brothers and sisters, I know that I have not yet reached that goal, but there is one thing I always do. Forgetting the past and straining toward what is ahead, I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize for which God called me through Christ to the life above.
If I want to know Christ and the power that raised him from the dead, I need to daily set my goals and then strain to achieve those goals. Just as I now have a goal of being ready for the 5k on August 14, 2010, I need to also have a spiritual goal. Will daily Bible reading and prayer help me better understand Christ and the power that raised him from the dead? It will help, but there should be more. Not only should I read and pray, I must then enact what I have learned in my daily life.
Just like simply getting up and running each morning is a good form of exercise, if I don't ever enter a race, I simply have a healthy body. How many Christians are walking around today with a terrific understanding of the Bible, having read it each day, but have yet to put it into practice? They are like athletes who only train and never compete. I believe that when you understand that training is good, but it is only when you have set a goal and then put everything into achieving that goal, putting all of your training into practice, that you achieve personal satisfaction. Sometimes, you also receive a prize!
How are you doing? Are you training with no intent of ever getting into competition? Are you reading your Bible, praying, and simply staying on the sidelines? What is keeping you from stepping into action? God loves spending time with us, but that time should compel us to become more Christ-like, and that means that we have to get dirty. Jesus touched the leapers, he lived with the poor and needy, and he ate with tax collectors. In doing so, Jesus changed the world.
The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to us today, we simply have to train and then put ourselves in the place God sends us. The power is His to give or deny. It is up to us to be sure to be ready when the time comes.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
In Training
My friends at the Lexington Leadership Foundation (www.lexlf.org) started a new running group a few months ago in preparation for a 10K run recently held in Lexington. While both my wife and I are former runners (we have both taken time off, me much more time off than my lovely bride), we chose not to become part of the group when it formed in April.
However, due to our friendship with the President/CEO of the LLF, we were invited to the spaghetti dinner held for the team the night prior to the July 3rd 10K run. It was a pleasure to be there to support the 30+ men, women, and children who would either participate in the 10K or in the 1 Mile Fun Run the following morning. Most enjoyable, however, was the Christian fellowship over a free meal (free to me at least, someone paid for the food) and the pep talks by both a Lexington City Council Member who has become the voice of fitness here in our community and the coach of the UK Women's Basketball team; both Christians.
The evening was so motivating, I told Kelly I felt we could be ready for the next event in which Team LLF would participate, the Mid-summer Night's Run, a 5K event in mid August. Kelly asked me the next day if I was serious about running in the Mid-summer Night's Run, and asked again a few days later, probably because I had yet to start training, and each time I said, yes. So this past Saturday and again this morning, my lovely bride was out training.
I followed suit this morning, and for the first time in over 20 years, I was running. Well, I ran, walked, ran, walked, ran, and walked (in that order) a mile this morning in just under 14 minutes. Now before you get too excited for me, my pace this morning was approximately that of a forced march in the Army, and they are carrying their full packs during their march. Also, when I used to run (now running isn't something I've done significantly since injuring a knee my junior year in school), "back in the day," my slowest times were 8 minute miles. While I'm happy I didn't die this morning, 14 minutes is significantly off my former pace. Of course, I've also added an entire person to my body, now weighing almost 90 pounds more than I did while running competitively ...
So after running this morning, I returned home, picked up my Bible and began my daily devotions. In early May I was challenged by my pastor to make Bible reading and prayer a priority each day, no matter what. Following the example of that pastor, I committed not to eat each day until after I had spent time with God.
Like running, time with God had become something I found easy to ignore, neglect, or simply not do. And like my body had gained extra weight due to the lack of exercise, decreasing my health; not spending time with God had also put me in a place where I was increasing my potential for worsening spiritual health.
Fortunately, making the commitment to be with God daily before food, something I've only missed twice in nearly 2-1/2 months, was an easy routine to develop. It is my hope that the care I've begun to take in my spiritual life (which has also brought forth more blogging), will show me that having put my mind to something, especially when it is God honoring, I can do it!
I look forward to seeing how running will improve my health and my life, just like my daily routine with God has shown positive changes in these past few months.
Where are you "sitting on the fence" in regards to a life change you've contemplated, but not yet implemented? What motivation will be required for you to take the plunge? Who in your life will you choose to hold you accountable? I urge you, follow God's prompting, you will not regret your decision!
However, due to our friendship with the President/CEO of the LLF, we were invited to the spaghetti dinner held for the team the night prior to the July 3rd 10K run. It was a pleasure to be there to support the 30+ men, women, and children who would either participate in the 10K or in the 1 Mile Fun Run the following morning. Most enjoyable, however, was the Christian fellowship over a free meal (free to me at least, someone paid for the food) and the pep talks by both a Lexington City Council Member who has become the voice of fitness here in our community and the coach of the UK Women's Basketball team; both Christians.
The evening was so motivating, I told Kelly I felt we could be ready for the next event in which Team LLF would participate, the Mid-summer Night's Run, a 5K event in mid August. Kelly asked me the next day if I was serious about running in the Mid-summer Night's Run, and asked again a few days later, probably because I had yet to start training, and each time I said, yes. So this past Saturday and again this morning, my lovely bride was out training.
I followed suit this morning, and for the first time in over 20 years, I was running. Well, I ran, walked, ran, walked, ran, and walked (in that order) a mile this morning in just under 14 minutes. Now before you get too excited for me, my pace this morning was approximately that of a forced march in the Army, and they are carrying their full packs during their march. Also, when I used to run (now running isn't something I've done significantly since injuring a knee my junior year in school), "back in the day," my slowest times were 8 minute miles. While I'm happy I didn't die this morning, 14 minutes is significantly off my former pace. Of course, I've also added an entire person to my body, now weighing almost 90 pounds more than I did while running competitively ...
So after running this morning, I returned home, picked up my Bible and began my daily devotions. In early May I was challenged by my pastor to make Bible reading and prayer a priority each day, no matter what. Following the example of that pastor, I committed not to eat each day until after I had spent time with God.
Like running, time with God had become something I found easy to ignore, neglect, or simply not do. And like my body had gained extra weight due to the lack of exercise, decreasing my health; not spending time with God had also put me in a place where I was increasing my potential for worsening spiritual health.
Fortunately, making the commitment to be with God daily before food, something I've only missed twice in nearly 2-1/2 months, was an easy routine to develop. It is my hope that the care I've begun to take in my spiritual life (which has also brought forth more blogging), will show me that having put my mind to something, especially when it is God honoring, I can do it!
I look forward to seeing how running will improve my health and my life, just like my daily routine with God has shown positive changes in these past few months.
Where are you "sitting on the fence" in regards to a life change you've contemplated, but not yet implemented? What motivation will be required for you to take the plunge? Who in your life will you choose to hold you accountable? I urge you, follow God's prompting, you will not regret your decision!
Monday, July 12, 2010
What is "Good"?
Yesterday was week two of the current series at church, "If God is Good..." and the question was raised, what is good? Until we understand how God defines good, how can we determine whether or not He is good?
Many Christians, and even non-Christians, I imagine, know Romans 8:28: "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." (NIV, emphasis mine)
I know man's definition of good and that is how many of us have interpreted this verse. Merriam-Webster defines good as "advancement of prosperity or well being." Isn't that what we are seeking each time we quote Romans 8:28? Don't we use this verse as a promise that God will turn this despair into good somehow? In saying that, don't we mean God will miraculously make this tragic situation somehow advance my prosperity or well being?
But if we live our lives quoting this verse, looking for the good God has promised to work, shouldn't we understand His definition of good? Fortunately, we don't have to wait very long in the book of Romans to find out how God defines good. Simply looking at Romans 8:29 provides the answer: "For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to BECOME LIKE HIS SON, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters." (NLT, emphasis mine)
You want to understand God's definition of good? You simply need to become more like Jesus. OK, how do I do that? I would imagine you make your priorities the same as Jesus' priorities. I would imagine you labor for the least of these, you daily spend time in prayer to seek God's will, and you never, ever do anything "unless I do what the Father does" (John 10:37). It is only through becoming more like Jesus that God's good will have been worked in our lives.
How are you doing in regards to becoming the good God desires to work in you? Are you becoming more Christ-like each day? Are your pursuits the same as Jesus'? Or has the glitter of the present world pulled you off track?
Commit today to become more Christ-like each day so you might grow into the good to which God has promised!
Many Christians, and even non-Christians, I imagine, know Romans 8:28: "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." (NIV, emphasis mine)
I know man's definition of good and that is how many of us have interpreted this verse. Merriam-Webster defines good as "advancement of prosperity or well being." Isn't that what we are seeking each time we quote Romans 8:28? Don't we use this verse as a promise that God will turn this despair into good somehow? In saying that, don't we mean God will miraculously make this tragic situation somehow advance my prosperity or well being?
But if we live our lives quoting this verse, looking for the good God has promised to work, shouldn't we understand His definition of good? Fortunately, we don't have to wait very long in the book of Romans to find out how God defines good. Simply looking at Romans 8:29 provides the answer: "For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to BECOME LIKE HIS SON, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters." (NLT, emphasis mine)
You want to understand God's definition of good? You simply need to become more like Jesus. OK, how do I do that? I would imagine you make your priorities the same as Jesus' priorities. I would imagine you labor for the least of these, you daily spend time in prayer to seek God's will, and you never, ever do anything "unless I do what the Father does" (John 10:37). It is only through becoming more like Jesus that God's good will have been worked in our lives.
How are you doing in regards to becoming the good God desires to work in you? Are you becoming more Christ-like each day? Are your pursuits the same as Jesus'? Or has the glitter of the present world pulled you off track?
Commit today to become more Christ-like each day so you might grow into the good to which God has promised!
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Better than a Hallelujah
Have you heard Amy Grant's newest single, "Better than a Hallelujah?" It is an amazing song that focuses on God enjoying truthful emotions from His children (a mother's tears, a drunkard's cry, the honest cries of breaking hearts) more than He enjoys hearing "Hallelujah" emanate from our lips.
I believe this song has a biblical foundation. Looking at Hosea 6:6 in the New Century Version we read, "I want faithful love more than I want animal sacrifices. I want people to know me more than I want burnt offerings."
God wants us to truly know Him, to be honest with Him as we approach His throne, either in prayer or in offering praise. It is only when we are honest with God that we have also become honest with ourselves. It is only through completely emptying ourselves that we are then able to allow God to fill us.
God is a strange phenomenon when you think about it. He created everything, and by Him are all things made (John 1:3), and yet He does not force Himself upon us. Unless we open ourselves up, God will not come into our life. Unless we freely accept His offer of forgiveness, God cannot change our lives. It is only when we are truly open, truly vulnerable before God that His miracle can happen.
Maybe that is why Amy's new song is so meaningful to me right now, and maybe that is why it was so important to her to record after hearing the song recently. Through this song, understanding that being real with God is more important to Him than saying "Hallelujah;" maybe, just maybe we will be able to find the healing only God can offer.
Are you open to God or are you simply singing hallelujah?
I believe this song has a biblical foundation. Looking at Hosea 6:6 in the New Century Version we read, "I want faithful love more than I want animal sacrifices. I want people to know me more than I want burnt offerings."
God wants us to truly know Him, to be honest with Him as we approach His throne, either in prayer or in offering praise. It is only when we are honest with God that we have also become honest with ourselves. It is only through completely emptying ourselves that we are then able to allow God to fill us.
God is a strange phenomenon when you think about it. He created everything, and by Him are all things made (John 1:3), and yet He does not force Himself upon us. Unless we open ourselves up, God will not come into our life. Unless we freely accept His offer of forgiveness, God cannot change our lives. It is only when we are truly open, truly vulnerable before God that His miracle can happen.
Maybe that is why Amy's new song is so meaningful to me right now, and maybe that is why it was so important to her to record after hearing the song recently. Through this song, understanding that being real with God is more important to Him than saying "Hallelujah;" maybe, just maybe we will be able to find the healing only God can offer.
Are you open to God or are you simply singing hallelujah?
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