Don’t Forget
Can you remember what you most recently forgot? Fumbling my way through the dark, I found the bed, re-adjusted the pillows, and collapsed into a heap, exhausted from my long day. As I lay there during the few minutes before sleep enveloped me, I prayed about several of the situations that had come my way that day. Shortly after my prayer’s, “Amen!” a sudden flurry of thoughts about a great message for Heartlight popped into my head. Rolling the ideas around in my mind, I was suddenly excited about these great insights and the great article they would inspire. I tried to place a few memory cues to help me retrieve the idea in the morning, then fell fast asleep. Now looking back, I’m sure that the article and ideas must have been great ones, but for the life of me, I couldn’t tell you what they were. Despite trying the memory cues, going over what I had been doing as I got into bed, reviewing the things that I had done that day, and even rehearsing the prayer I prayed that night, I have not been able to grab hold of those thoughts. I simply forgot them. I can’t remember what they were. I forget things quite frequently. This is not a new problem, but one I’ve had all my life. I’ve learned all sorts of tricks to set aside memory cues and to use memory trigger points to help me recall things. They work most of the time. Sometimes, however, what I wanted to remember is gone … forgotten … never to return to me again. Having worked with many people over the years, I’ve learned that I have a lot of company with this memory problem. (If you don’t think you have this problem, then I would kindly suggest that you’ve forgotten that you’ve forgotten a bunch of stuff!) We human beings are a forgetful lot. This is especially true with memory of God and the many things he has done to bless us. So we shouldn’t be surprised that one of the most powerfully convicting books in the Old Testament stresses that God’s people must not forget what the Almighty has done for them and remember all they have comes from him. Knowing that we are forgetful people, God built into our lives, faith events that stir our memory and re-awaken us to his ongoing presence and work. During the Old Testament times, he gave his people the yearly pilgrimage feasts. Many of the people would journey to Jerusalem and take part in rituals, celebrations, and activities where they would re-live the great acts of God’s deliverance. Today, God has given us the Lord’s Supper and baptism as regular reminders and opportunities to re-live the center of his saving work – Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection and to remind us that he will return in glory. God wants us to work at remembering … remembering his grace, his love, his great acts of redemption, his promises, and his ultimate salvation offered to all of us. So many other thoughts crowd into our minds that we often can’t remember what is most important. Before long, we end up living based upon the most urgent or most flashy immediate thoughts that catch our attention. We forget the crucial, life-giving, and eternal truths necessary for our Christian faith to truly shape our lives. So the next time you forget something, please remember how easy it is to forget what is most important to you. Make a conscious effort to go back and rehearse, remember, and re-live the great acts of God in your life. Don’t lose your spiritual passion in the sea of forgetfulness or the sloth of not intentionally remembering the greatness and goodness of our Father. Watch out! Be very careful never to forget what you have seen the LORD do for you. Do not let these things escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren. (Deuteronomy 4:9 NLT) About the author: Phil Ware has authored 11 years of daily devotionals, including VerseoftheDay.com, read by 500,000 people a day. He works with churches in transition with Interim Ministry Partners and for the past 21+ years, he has been editor and president of HEARTLIGHT Magazine, author of VerseoftheDay.com, God’s Holy Fire (on the Holy Spirit), and aYearwithJesus.com. Phil has also authored four books, daily devotionals on each of the four gospels.
Lonely Places as Usual
Is my life shaped by intentional time away from the noise to be with the Father? Prayer holds my heart captive today. I can’t get the idea of prayer out of my head. I can’t satisfy my heart with the quality of my prayer life. I am frustrated by my times of ineffective prayers and my lackadaisical approach to prayer in my life. What makes this all the more bewildering is that I love to pray. Prayer is something most are willing to discuss and would like to trust. However, most of us admit that we don’t pray as much as we should and that we would like to know how to pray more effectively. Most of all, we don’t understand why praying can become such hard and tedious work. Prayer seemed so natural for Jesus. Why is it so hard for us? To make my feelings on prayer even more complicated, much of my work with congregations in transition focuses on prayer. We pray for the Holy Spirit to lead our process. We pray for the Lord to strengthen and sharpen our focus as we wait for their new ministry partner. We pray for their new minister and the congregation from which he comes. We pray for the new minister’s family and their transition to a new place. We pray for us to be patient and to wait on the Lord, not rushing things to make them fit our timetable. We pray for God’s mission and vision for the congregation to become the lifeblood of what they do in the community and around the world. We pray for the impact on the lost people the congregation is trying to reach. We pray for the search team as they seek to be led by the Spirit. We pray for the elders to be true shepherds during this time that often feels so unsettling to their church family. Prayer is the fabric that holds the interim season together as we yearn for our hearts to be in tune with the Lord’s work. Prayer is also very important to me and to my ministry online.[NOTE] Unfortunately, however, I know my life is not framed and filled with prayer as much as Jesus’ life was. I want it to be, yet this “less than Jesus” feeling points to a shortcoming in my spiritual life that can only be filled with meaningful prayer time with the Father. Most importantly, however, I am interested in prayer because I want it to be more pervasively woven into my life. I want prayer to be the “spirit-natural” air I breathe. I want prayer to be present in every aspect of my life. I want prayer to be my vital link to God, yet I fear I don’t cherish the “lonely places” and my time with the Father with the same passion my Savior did. When Luke puts together his “orderly account” (Luke 1:1-4) of Jesus’ life, he makes clear that prayer framed the life of our Savior. Jesus’ teaching on prayer and his time in prayer reoccur throughout his story of Jesus. Luke wants us to know that prayer was the fabric that held Jesus’ life and ministry together. Nearly every key event is touched by prayer. Nearly every key movement of Jesus’ teaching mentions prayer in some way. Jesus’ life was so characterized by prayer that when Judas needed to find the Lord to betray him, Judas knew where to go: to Jesus’ garden of prayer! Each of Jesus’ moments in prayer and his teaching about prayer deserves special mention. Two, however, hold my heart today. These two instances matter so much to me because they frame his story. They reveal where to find Jesus when he is away from the crowds. Jesus had no earthly address, but no matter where Jesus was in his journey from the manger to the cross, you knew where to find him. He could be found in “lonely places” spending time with the Father, “as usual,” in prayer. Notice the emphasis in the two passages below, one which occurs near the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and the other at the end. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed (Luke 5:15-16) Jesus went out, as usual, to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed… (Luke 22:39-40). If you are like me, you avoid “lonely places”. They are not our usual habitat. I fill lonely places with music, reading, television, computer work, hunting, fishing, hiking, conversation, and people. None of those “lonely places” fillers are bad in themselves. They can be, however, distractions from our deepest need: to walk with God “in the cool of the day” (Genesis 3:4 ESV). So today, I’m asking you to join me in a prayer. This is not a long prayer or an elaborate prayer or an eloquent prayer. It is a simple prayer asking for our hearts to yearn for the Father – to intentionally seek him in “lonely places” so that the “as usual” part of our lives are characterized by prayer! O Father, thank you for choosing to meet with me and hear me even though you are glorious, mighty, and transcendent. I ask that the Holy Spirit make my heart yearn for “lonely places” and to fill those lonely places with you. Help me find delight in my time with you in prayer. Strengthen me to make my “as usual” to be times of prayer. In Jesus’ name, I ask for this grace. Amen. About the author: Phil Ware has authored 11 years of daily devotionals, including VerseoftheDay.com, read by 500,000 people a day. He works with churches in transition with Interim Ministry Partners and for the past 21+ years, he has been editor and president of HEARTLIGHT Magazine, author of VerseoftheDay.com, God’s Holy Fire (on the Holy Spirit),
What’s Really Important
How do you know the difference? I heard recently from a man in his fifties. He said, “I’ve learned that the challenge of life is to find out what’s important and to disregard everything else.” Not bad advice! It’s really a shame to think about wasting your life on cotton candy, soda pop, television, and accumulating stuff while doing without what’s really important. But so many folks actually live this way, totally missing out on the important things of life. Missing the point can happen to dedicated and religious people, too. Jesus came down awfully hard on the people who spent a lot of time worrying about how to tithe tiny bits of spices but never bothered about the greater matters of the law: justice, mercy, love, and faith (Matthew 23:23-24). I guess the question is, have you learned what really counts? Do you know how to disregard the other stuff? God’s Word is a pretty good guide in that search. So is seeking after the heart and wisdom of God! Only God can help us find the path to what’s truly important! Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6). About the author: Dr. Faulkner was the very first person of note and influence who shared his content with us at HEARTLIGHT.org beginning in 1996. Paul Faulkner taught on the Abilene Christian University campus full-time for 35 years. He was honored in 1982 as the university’s Teacher of the Year. He has written several books and was a much sought-after speaker and seminar leader along with his Marriage Enrichment partner, Dr. Carl Brecheen. Dr. Faulkner mentored many ministers and church leaders, shared his loving homespun humor and wisdom through many channels, and endeared himself to thousands. Our dear friend and mentor went to be with the Lord in 2022, but his legacy lives on in the lives of those he touched and made better.
It’s Not For Everyone
Maybe the gospel isn’t for all “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29) If you think about it, this invitation by Jesus isn’t for everyone. I’m not saying that He wouldn’t receive all who wanted to come nor am I saying that His sacrifice was in any way limited. What I’m saying is Jesus is calling those who are tired. Those who feel weighed down. Those who are dissatisfied. Those who don’t like the way things are. If you’ve never gone through a hard time, if you haven’t known disappointment, if you haven’t experienced loss, Jesus’ invitation won’t be very attractive. If you enjoy war and suffering and hunger and illness and all the things that surround us in this world, you’re probably not interested in the rest that Jesus offers. If you haven’t felt the burden of guilt, the soul-wrenching weight of remorse, then a light yoke probably doesn’t sound very good. You may find it hard to appreciate what Jesus has to offer. But the vast majority of us know what it is to be weary. Tired to the bone. We know what it feels like to be burdened, be it the burden of worry, the burden of sin, the burden of illness. What we long for is rest. Rest for our souls. Even though it is a yoke that Jesus offers, it is a light one. And we’re ready. We’re willing. Show us where to sign. To us, Jesus says simply: Come. He’ll lay His yoke on us, He’ll teach us, and He’ll do it in a gentle, humble way. Come, He says. Lay your burdens down. Come. Find rest and peace. Find forgiveness and grace. Learn what it is to serve a gentle Master, one whose goal is to ease our burdens and rest our souls. No, the invitation isn’t for everyone. But I know it’s for me. And it just might be for you. If you’d like to know more, write me at tim@hopeforlife.org or leave a comment on our blog at www.hopeforlife.org/blog. (Expressed written consent must be obtained prior to republishing, retransmitting or otherwise reusing the content of this article. Contact us at info@hopeforlife.org) About the author: Tim Archer is the author of Church Inside Out and leads a seminar by the same name on behalf of Hope For Life, a Herald of Truth ministry.
Unveiling of Legacy
What will you have to pass on to your children and grandchildren? A good life gets passed on to the grandchildren … (Proverbs 13:22 MSG). Preparation Thomas Cahill writes about history, legacy really. In The Gift of the Jews, Cahill explores the impact of “the God of Abraham.” This Creator-God gives us a beginning and an end; he defines justice and mercy, refines our conscience. And, as Cahill states, “Most of our best words – new, adventure, surprise, unique, individual, person, vocation, time, history, future, freedom, progress, spirit: faith, hope, justice – are the gifts of the Jews,” Abraham’s legacy to us. Stay with me as we sneak a peek into our legacy – our view of life and living. For better or worse, my dad shaped my view of the world. Part of his personal story was clouded by years of alcohol addiction, but his perspective about life has become clearer and more meaningful as the years have gone by. From my dad, I learned to never throw away what could be fixed, to refrain from freeze-framing people (everyone can and will change), and to think outside the box (look for unexpected options). Over the years I have become his legacy, unwrapping the best and forgetting the worst. Legacy is the wisdom, convictions, experiences, and values that have been handed down to us from the generations before us. It shapes our worldview, providing wisdom and direction for the next generation. Legacy is powerful. It is a gift we are compelled to open, but after opening it, we are faced with challenges and choices. Will we accept the gift and find a place to display it and share it, toss it, or rebel against it? What have you done with the legacy you were given? How have your parents, your early years, your grandparents shaped your perspective on life? Then the bonus question: How much of your faith is yours and how much of it is what you inherited from others? Inspiration A few days ago I was blessed by a “holy moment.” Mearl’s body was at the funeral home; the memorial service was set for the next day, so most of the details related to death had been dealt with. Now it was time to talk. We gathered in the family room to tell stories, share memories, and unwrap the legacy of Mearl Jacobs. She had lived a life filled with stories, from the dust bowl of Oklahoma to Southern California to Abilene, Texas. Most people didn’t know that she worked for thirty years at Rockwell International and helped prepare the budget for the first space shuttle; or that even at 82 years of age, she loved the highest of the high-heeled shoes; or that although she really didn’t care much for baseball, she loved listening to Vin Scully call the LA Dodger’s games because her son, John, loved baseball. Before long, the conversation turned from stories about Mearl, to stories of how she changed and shaped the lives in the room. Her daughter, Carol, said, “Just a few hours before Mom died she said she wanted to go home. ‘I asked her if she meant back to her apartment?’ She said, ‘NO!’ I asked, ‘Home to be with Jesus?’ ‘YES!’” That did it. The legacy began to emerge. A tapestry of love and grace and service was realized that night. Mearl had lived a life that rubbed off on the young and old alike. When she rubbed off on you, you left a different person, a better person. She was gifted that way. She knew how to demonstrate the things that really mattered. She stood up for values that she held dear and she always seemed to know how to grace people, to accept them “as is.” Her grandkids talked of her perpetual, unconditional acceptance of them, no matter what. Some things have to be seen to be understood: love, forgiveness, acceptance, and faith are a few. Mearl knew how to help you see. Her life was an investment in family and church and friends – in people. The fingerprints of God were all over that room. It was a legacy celebration, and I was honored to feel the holiness of it. Mearl had seen the best in these kids before they had seen it in themselves and now they understood. The gift was unwrapped; the legacy unveiled. The next day, it was clear that Mearl was still around. We buried the body, but she lives in all those present and beyond. She is still hugging and giving and loving and smiling and if you are really in need of it, she is still giving “that look.” It’s her legacy. Motivation You have received a legacy and you are building a legacy. They are both bigger than you. Make the most of both. What is it that you want said about you when you’re gone? What rubbings are you leaving on the people in your family and in your world? Like those before you, you are shaping the worldview of those who come after you. So get on with it. Regardless of what others do or have done, YOU have the choice! Visit the i2eye page and take the challenge. Listen to the spots and see what God does with 21 days: http://www.faithteam.org/talks.htm About the author: Ron Rose has been a unique minister and friend, but he is also a noted author and leader of several ministries. Ron now makes himself available as a listener and friend as he spends time with people on the go and in coffee shops and shares grace and a listening ear connecting them with God who is always in the room!
Chaos and Peace
We can’t forget the one while we experience the other! Chaos and peace. Evil and good. Tragedy and joy. Disaster and success. Despair and hope. Horror and delight. Sorrow and rejoicing. Ugliness and beauty. Suffering and pleasure. Such is life. All at the same time. Life seems to be falling apart! More demands on your time than you can handle, and then even more is demanded. When you think there is nothing else that could possibly go wrong something else goes wrong. Bills are piling up. Tensions are high. At the same time, a phone call calms your spirit. A sermon touches your heart. A chapter in a book or an article seems to have been written with you in mind. The Bible passage you had read hundreds of times, suddenly and even strangely makes good sense. In the midst of chaos, there is peace. Life is going great! The family is healthy. Work is good. Your golf game is better than ever. Your boss complimented you on your work. You child got all A’s. Both cars are running well. Your mail includes a rebate you had forgotten about. At the same time there’s an accident. A phone call in the early morning hours. You are dazed. In the midst of peace, there is chaos. Your ministry is going great! The church is growing. Souls are being saved. Lives are being changed. You know God is doing it and you are delighted to give Him all the glory. You are just enjoying being along for the ride. At the same time, beneath your vision, evil is lurking waiting for the right time to attack. Temptation is stronger than ever and you are feeling weaker than ever. Guilt, fear, negativity, anger, and resentment are eating at you. In the midst of goodness, there is evil. Your ministry is in the pits! Your spiritual life is dry and empty. You are questioning your call. It’s been so long since you felt like you were actually helping anyone that you are now considering leaving your post. You are discouraged and frustrated and tired. At the same time an email arrives thanking you for a kindness you showed someone. A phone call from a friend lifts your spirits. At the end of your class one of your students hangs around to say they are getting a lot out of your class and that they appreciate all the time you spend inpreparation. In the midst of evil, there is goodness. This is life. In the midst of the darkest of hours comes a flickering light to remind you to hang on until morning. In the brightest of days there is a shadow that reminds you to be grateful for the brightness of the day. In the midst of unbearable suffering there is a thought of heaven and a day when all suffering ends. In the midst of indescribable joy there is a song that takes you back to sadder days to remind you that there are those around you in great need. As Jesus prayed in the garden he was battling Satan’s evil temptations at the same time. As He visited the home of a friend who had died, He brought hope of the Resurrection. As He moved among the poor, the oppressed, and the blind, he brought riches, freedom and sight. As He taught his disciples to love, the tempter convinced one to betray him. As He suffered on the cross, He saved us from our sins. As He died, we gained life. We are alive because He died. We have life “to the full” because He became empty. We die to ourselves so that we can live for Him and so that others will follow. This is life. This is the message of the cross. Perhaps one key to life is to accept this reality – to always be aware of it, and not get so caught up in one that we forget the other is present. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need. (Philippians 4:12-13) About the author: Tom Norvell is the author of “A Norvell Note” — Thoughts and reflections on God, life, people, and living as a follower of Jesus. He has ministered with followers of Jesus for four decades and loves Jesus, his family, and those seeking Jesus, passionately.
When Your Hero Falls
What do you do when your hero makes a big mistake? He became king at age 16. He ruled for 52 years. And he was a very good king. His name was Uzziah, and we read his story in the Bible, in the book of 2 Chronicles, chapter 26. We can read that he was a religious man, trying to do what God wanted. Because of that, God blessed the king with great success, militarily and economically. Everything he did turned out well. Until he got too proud. Then Uzziah decided that his power as king wasn’t great enough, that he wanted the power the priests had as well. When he tried to go against God’s law and make an offering in the temple, God gave Uzziah a terrible disease. The king was immediately removed from public life and died in shame a few years later. Can you imagine how his followers felt the terrible day when someone said, “Did you hear about King Uzziah?” Can you imagine the heartbreak and the disillusionment? Great and powerful King Uzziah was now disgraced and dying King Uzziah. Some of you know the story. You’ve read it in the newspaper: the pastor caught in sexual sin, the church leader found to be embezzling funds, the public figure with a drug problem. Others have lived the story. Someone that you believed in failed in a terrible way. Your role model turned out to have feet of clay. A person you trusted betrayed that trust. What do you do at times like that? What do you do when it’s not a politician, but someone in the church? Do you blame God? Turn your back on religion? Leave the church? We know how one young man reacted back in Uzziah’s day. We read about it in the book of Isaiah, chapter 6: “In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne” (Isaiah 6:1). I don’t think the timing is coincidental. I think it took Uzziah’s death for Isaiah to really see the Lord, to recognize who the real king was. Who is between you and God? Who are you letting be bigger than God in your life? Who keeps you from really seeing the Lord? When someone fails you, look up. When the church fails you, look up. When Isaiah did, he found a wondrous Lord who would never disappoint. You’ll find the same. If I can help, write to me at tarcher@heraldoftruth.org or join the discussion at www.hopeforlife.org. (Expressed written consent must be obtained prior to republishing, retransmitting or otherwise reusing the content of this article. Contact us at info@hopeforlife.org) About the author: Tim Archer is the author of Church Inside Out and leads a seminar by the same name on behalf of Hope For Life, a Herald of Truth ministry.
Breathtaking!
For God so loved us that he came to our world as a child. I slipped into the hospital room quietly. I didn’t want to wake my friend, Tubby, if he was sleeping. He was in the latter stages of cancer. Tubby had lived a rich and full life, living all over the world with his precious wife, Versie. As I entered, he greeted me with a smile. I slipped out of my jacket and into a comfortable chair, then scooted it closer to his bedside. After some small talk, I asked Tubby to tell me about some of the exotic places they had lived. Working for an oil company, they took a lot of the more difficult or distant locations because they never had children. Well, you know, Phil, we’ve lived in a lot of very unique and beautiful places, but after three months of living there, it was simply home. One place we lived in Africa was incredibly beautiful, breathtaking even. The back of our house looked out over the lush jungle with Mount Kilimanjaro rising in the background. But we forgot how beautiful it was until someone would visit and remind us of how breathtaking the world was just outside our back door! Tubby was right, wasn’t he? We grow overly familiar with breathtaking things. Until we reawaken to them through the eyes of someone else, we forget how incredible they are. We can also do this with the story of Jesus. Recently, I began reading through Matthew one chapter at a time. After reading the first two chapters, I felt as if the Holy Spirit thumped me on my noggin to reawaken my heart to the breathtaking reality of God coming to earth in Jesus. Matthew tells us that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah), the son of David, the son of Abraham, the Son of God, the one who took away the sin of his people, and Immanuel, God with us (Matthew 1:1, 16-18, 21, 23). Matthew tells us about Jesus’ divine identity as the long-awaited coming of the Jewish Messiah and Savior. We sing songs of praise about Jesus’ greatness. Proper confession of Jesus’ identity is central to the faith necessary for salvation. But does Jesus stir our hearts and take our breath away? While recognizing Jesus’ divine identity is important, the breathtaking reality for me comes in the second chapter of Matthew’s gospel. After Matthew reminds us that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah) and King of the Jews (Matthew 2:1-4), he drove home the breathtaking reality of Jesus’ vulnerability as Immanuel with one word: “child”! Matthew repeated this simple word for “child” (pais, paidi’on) nine times (Matthew 2:8, 9, 10, 13 [2x], 14, 16, 20 [2x]). The Messiah, the Son of God, Immanuel God incarnate, came to us as a child. Such truth should capture our hearts. The word Matthew chose was a simple word for “child” – not a word of privilege or importance, “just a child.” Of course, there is no such thing as “just a child”! In the eyes of God, who personally created each of us in the womb, we are unique and precious. From conception, God had a plan and purpose for our lives even before our mothers recognized us as a flutter in her womb (Psalm 139:13-16). In Jesus’ day, however, children were not counted among the men at the feeding of the 5,000 or the 4,000 (Matthew 14:21, 15:38). Their testimony and questions were not considered important (Matthew 11:16-17). Jesus rebuked his disciples for forbidding people to bring their children to him to be blessed (Matthew 19:13). In Greek society, a child was not considered a legitimate son or daughter unless they were wanted and named after they were born. Otherwise, they were “exposed” – left to die at the garbage dump or some wild place. The reality of being “just a child” in the ancient world, the world of Jesus, was harsh and fraught with vulnerabilities. Yet God chose to enter our world as such a child! The safety of the Messiah, the Son of God, depended upon a man who adopted Jesus as his son and a handful of stargazers from the East, doing what Israel’s God told them to do. Why? Because Jesus, God with us, came to us as a child in a dangerous world. Breathtaking. For God so loved us that he came into our world as a child. All those titles for Jesus lead us to Immanuel, God with us, the child! For me, there are at least three powerful truths I must carry with me from reawakening to the breathtaking reality that almighty God came to us as a child: Each child is precious because we don’t know God’s plans for him or her (Psalm 139:13-16). No one knew who was in the “baby bump” of Mary except God, and what inkling of the impossible they had in the hearts of Mary and Joseph. We must view each child as a person of value to God. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14). “And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me” (Matthew 18:5). Our goal as Jesus’ disciples must not be to be recognized as powerful and important, but to be humble and serve others with our lives as our Lord did: At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”He called a little child to him and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:1-4). The Creator of all we know in this vast universe (Colossians 1:15-20), gave up all his status, protection, and power (Philippians
Our Safety Net
Jesus calls us to the future, not to fear. How are you doing on your walk through life? Hopefully you are walking tall and strong! However, if you are like many of us, it’s a daily struggle to keep our eyes focused on the Lord and not on the problems, fears, and struggles that Satan throws at us. A friend, Vicki, wrote these words describing her personal struggle – she compared it to Peter and his attempt to walk on the water to come to Jesus. It made me think of the tightrope I feel myself to be on at the moment. I started out on my middle-age business venture with some trepidation, but lots of hope and faith.Now that I’m 2/3 across the rope, instead of focusing on the platform of safety just ahead of me, all of a sudden, just as Peter did, I see my surroundings. I falter long enough to look down and realize, “I’m 20 feet up in the air with no safety net. The people look like ants. My legs are tired and trembling. My eyes are clouded with tears and sweat. What was I thinking?!”I lost sight of the arms of Jesus waiting for me and the safety net of His love and mercy and grace. James reminded us that we need to admit our dependence on the Lord and his ability to rescue us. James says, “When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on him, he will lift you up and give you honor.” (James 4:10 NLT) We have been taught by our culture that we must be self-reliant, tough, able to handle any situation that comes our way, and able to find the power to succeed within ourselves. I do believe that God expects us to plan and to try to do our best, but nowhere in the Scriptures do we find God demanding that we be self-reliant. Just the opposite is true! God wants us and expects us to call upon him! We are to call upon him when we plan. We are to call upon him as we walk down the path of our plan. We are to call upon him with faith so that he can pick us up and guide our feet as we walk our path and as we put our faith in him! He is our safety net, our Savior, and our source of strength. About the author: Russ Lawson is a former missionary to Africa and minister in Ohio. He now works with World Christian Literature Outreach and writes a weekly email devotional, Messages from the Heart. For more information about Russ, click here.
Life Happens!
No one is exempt from life’s challenges. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogantwhen I saw the prosperity of the wicked.(Psalm 73:2-3) Life happens. Really? Life happens? What does that really mean? Life. Happens. Over the years I have witnessed one crisis after another. With crisis comes devastation. Losses of every kind. Brutality. Hatred. Illnesses. Financial turmoil. Marriages that fail. Shootings. Riots. Pain. And, war. Life happens in every nook and cranny of our existence. No one is exempt from life’s challenges. Many ask: Does God care? Is he aware of the horrific happenings in our lives? Does he not hear our cries for help? Will God not provide comfort? Solutions? Help? Grace? We find it tougher to hang on by the second. The strength it takes to grip our rope of hope is beginning to take its toll. The fatigue feels overwhelming. Weariness has set in for the time being. Emptiness has taken its place in the mind. Loneliness is burdensome. Eyes fill with tears. Anger takes the stage. Guilt pulls into the station. Our souls long for calm in our turbulent storms. Conflicts beat their continual rhythm of frustration. Exhaustion sets in as thinking about adversity become increasingly annoying. Is there any hope for the restless mind that’s constantly on a journey of painful memories, sleepless nights, and fear of what will happen next? GRACE, where are you? Please take your place so the soul can rest, memories will not be so daunting, days are not so long, nights can be met with quality sleep, and fears can dissipate into oblivion. Where is that place to rest? When will we be able to catch a breath and catch up with every emotion journeying through our minds? Is there a sanctuary where we can go to be free to express our hurts? Do we have that one friend who will listen – who can be trusted and who is faithful? Asaph was a music director in the big choir of Israel. He was opining over his life (Psalm 73:1-28). He compared the ways of those who lived godlessly with the way he had been living his life. He wondered if he may have lived his life in vain. He said that the wicked are carefree and live a trouble-free life; yet, his life was banged around with trouble and strife. Asaph didn’t stay in his pity party for long. His connection with God helped him grasp the difficulties of life. Asaph’s sanctuary moment with God reminded him that in life, good and bad happens even to the ones who live honorably. He also remembered that while wicked people may possess an abundance of stuff, apparently live carefree lives, and outwardly seem they have it all together, they will face a day of reckoning. God will hold them accountable for living up to his standard. Life really does happen to all of us. It isn’t always good. Bad things happen to people whose lives are honorable in every way. God, however, is always there for us. Jesus promised us that we can come to him anytime we need him and he will provide exactly what we need. Decisions to adjust one’s life based on bad stuff that has happened or is happening can cost one a great deal. The cost may be a job. Marriage. Financial hardship. Friends. And, a plethora of other things. However, when one sets out on a course to change one’s life for the betterment of him/herself, then it is imperative that one is willing to accept the challenges from those who disagree. The key is to allow God to lead and be willing to be patient. Life happens. It isn’t always good. Life happens. It isn’t always bad. Life happens, and it zaps one’s energy. Life happens, and it fills one with joy. Life happens, and it is totally devastating. Life happens and brings unforgettably good experiences. No matter what is happening in life, God is always on the scene. God is always aware. God is always working out the details to get us where we need to be. God is always providing resources. God is always leading us to be renewed, refreshed and revived. Seeing God in the intricacies of life will enable each of us to be better, feel better, and live better. Life happens, but God is always God! My flesh and my heart may fail,but God is the strength of my heartand my portion forever.(Psalm 73:26). About the author: Brian is preaching minister at Central Church in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. He is passionate about preaching the grace of God, the Lordship of Jesus and the indwelling Spirit. Most of all, he believes in preaching Jesus and blogging about practical things that will help believers remain under God’s guidance.