Words escape me.  Now, I realize that is a bad confession for a writer to make.  After all, words are my medium, the paint I use to color the canvas.  And yet, when I think about Jesus – when I truly stop to marvel in wonder at the Lord and His goodness and mercy, lavished on such an undeserving sinner as I…

Words escape me.

When I’m seeking direction and getting frustrated, smacking my head against so many brick walls, that should be a key indicator that I am seeking something other than God first.  When I realize that I am seeking in vain – usually about the time that my head butting causes a severe headache – I stop, regroup, and pray.

However, when I am truly seeking God, pursuing His will and His way (what Matthew calls His kingdom), and my heart is turned Godward, there is a peace that washes over me.  There is a joy that fills my innermost being.  When I have turned off all the distractions of life and given my attention fully to Jesus Christ, to Who God is and how He loves me…

Words escape me.

It is in the Lord that I find strength and direction. This is where my spirit is refreshed, my soul energized.  I find hope in the Lord when I meditate on His Word.  I see the world with different eyes and discover that God truly is all that God claims He is.  I get a glimpse of the Great I AM, and a glimpse is all we need.

When I seek the Lord, I see that He has brought me so, so far.  And I see that I still have so, so far to travel.  It is in His grace that I seek to journey down this path of life.  God – the Love of God – makes me want to be a better man.  Like David, I want the Lord to say of me, “I have found in (Chris) a man after my heart, who will do all my will” (Acts 13:22, ESV).

You should want that too.  Here, say it out loud: I want the Lord to say of me, “I have found in (insert your name here) a man / woman after my heart, who will do all my will.” Go ahead, say it again.  Repeat it.  Write it down somewhere.

Seeking the Lord first brings an indescribable joy and incredible peace of mind and heart that can be – should be – life changing.  When we find our wills bent far less inward and far more in the direction of the kingdom of God, we find that He truly changes the desires of our heart and meets our every need.

And when I truly begin to realize these things… well, you know what I’m going to say…

“The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.” – Deuteronomy 28:7 (NIV)

I hope today that you are facing opposition.  I hope you are in the midst of some trial or working through an uncomfortable situation.  And, moreover, I hope you are staying connected to God through it all.

Now, you might be thinking, “Wow… gee thanks.  That was real inspiring!”  I know it sounds awful to say “I hope you are facing some issues.”  And, truly, I wish none of us had to face troubles or trials or hardship or pain of any kind.  But, one of the great truths of this life is just as Jesus put it: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33b, NIV).

As we well know, life is not easy.  We face temptations, trials and turbulence at various points in life.  And for good reasons.

Consider this: you are alone at a cabin in the woods.  Two men break into your cabin.  One looks like he could do you some harm.  He’s mean, menacing, armed, big and bold.  This guy is bad news. 

The other guy is… well… he’s there.  He’s leaned against the door.  He’s a skinny guy, totally oblivious to the evil intent of his cohort.  He’s got his smart phone out, texting to his friends and Tweeting.  He’s even snapped a photo of his partner ransacking your belongings, with the caption “LOL.”  He’s no threat.  In fact, you’re not really sure why he’s even there.

Which one of these guys is the real threat?

Now, flip this scenario around.  The devil, the prince of this world (John 14:30), is seated comfortably in the midst of his kingdom.  Two Christians show up.  One looks like he could do the devil some harm.  He has “put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Galatians 6:11, NIV). He recognizes his enemy, and that his battle “is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Galatians 6:12, NIV).  He’s not perfect, but he’s faithful, prepared and bold.

The other guy is… well… he’s there. He’s leaned against the door. He’s a skinny guy, totally oblivious to the evil intent of his enemy. He’s got his smart phone out, texting to his friends and Tweeting. He’s even snapped a photo of his partner, standing strong in his faith in Christ, with the caption “LOL.” He’s no threat. In fact, you’re not really sure why he’s even there.

Which one of these guys is the real threat?  And who is our adversary going to pursue?  Surely not the guy with the cell phone.  Satan is going to set his sights on the one who can do him harm. 

If anyone knows this, it is the apostle Peter.  From the moment Jesus declared Simon to be Cephas (or Peter), the rock upon which Christ would build His house (the church), the disciple had a humongous target on his chest.  Peter knew all too well what he was talking about when he wrote, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”  But, it’s not fair to simply look at this one line.  This is actually good news!

⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

⁸ Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

¹⁰ And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. ¹¹ To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. – 1 Peter 5:6-11 (NIV)

I do not truly wish upon anybody any sort of trouble.  But the simple truth is, if you are the least bit effective for the kingdom of heaven, the prince of this world is not going to be happy.  If you are facing absolutely no opposition, you may want to rethink your life strategy.  (By the way, if you are, in fact, sailing smoothly through life, do not be lulled into the false belief that this will always be your lot.)

Be bold.  Be faithful.  Rise up in the power and authority of Jesus Christ.  Proclaim His majesty!  Do the good work put before you.  Rest in faith, knowing the battle is not yours, but God’s.

And the enemy, the devil, is a defeated foe.

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. – James 1:2-8 (NIV)

Stay strong.  Trust God, for He alone is your source.  Expect opposition to rise.  But know that it is only for a season, and that the LORD has won the battle – and the war.  After all, Jesus is truly the One Who has Risen!

This morning I’m meditating over Psalm 81, and I’m amazed at how some things seem to never change.  One of them is man’s inability to fully break out of the cycle of sin.  I shouldn’t be amazed at this.  Logically I understand that we are born into sin and sin is borne within us, thanks to the whole episode in the garden with the serpent and Adam and Eve and the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (not an apple, by the way – probably some more nefarious vegetation like asparagus which, I know, does not grow on trees but…). 

What is illogical to me is why we keep jumping on this merry-go-round of sin when we know the spinning makes us sick.  You know the routine: commit sin, feel guilty / ashamed / convicted / condemned (etc.), go to God, repent (or have the intention thereof), ask for God’s forgiveness, receive God’s forgiveness, thank God for His forgiveness, and love, and grace, and mercy, and provision, and wisdom…, feel better, get comfortable, somehow manage to forget all the wonderful things of the Lord, get tempted by sin (like a cat glaring at a shaking, shiny toy), pursue said shiny toy, commit sin, realize we just did it again, and round-and-round we go…

Shouldn’t we know better by now?

If you think you’re alone in this, you are not.  We all struggle.  We always have.  And, if you love God, you will continue to.  At least as long as you draw breath on this earth.  Why?  Because we all sin.  Its in our very being.  The curse is so pervasive that it is almost as if it is part of our DNA.  If we truly love Christ, we recognize and feel remorse for our sin.  If we do not love Him, we simply go about our merry way doing whatever without any real care about eternity.

In other words, we are all sinners.  If my sin bothers me, good.  It better bother me.  If it doesn’t… time for a major heart and head check / change.

The Israelites were caught up in this cycle.  Psalm 81 opens with the declaration that we are to praise God – noisily and joyously! – for He is “our strength.”  Then there is the reminder of what the Lord has done, directly saving His children from bondage in Egypt (“I relieved your shoulder of the burden; you hands were freed from the basket”).  Once enslaved in this godless place, the people of God are now walking in His freedom.  They cried out in their “distress,” and He came to their rescue.

And yet… “But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel did not listen to me.  So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels” (Psalm 81:11-12, ESV).

Yikes…

As history has shown us time and again, this repeated pattern has resulted in repeated disastrous results.  But, if God’s people would only pursue Him, seek His will and His ways, “I would subdue their enemies and turn my hands against their foes” (Psalm 81: 14, ESV).  And that is one of those “thus sayeth the Lord” moments.

And, lest you think this merely applies to the Israelites… think again.  I find the wording of the concluding verse of Psalm 81 to be particularly interesting: “But he would feed you with the finest wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you” (Psalm 81:16, ESV, italics added for emphasis).  The immediate image that comes to my mind is of Peter (“the rock”) and the church.  The imperfect community of the absolutely perfect Jesus Christ, God incarnate.  These admonitions, warnings and blessings all apply to the body of Christ as much as it did to the Israelites.  We are God’s children, and He wants us to live in His light – to be salt and light, a light atop a hill, a beacon to the world. 

Understand where you are, and who you are, in Christ.  You are cleansed.  You are forgiven.  You are blessed and loved.  You are a child – an heir – of the Living God, Creator and Sustainer of All!  Remember where you have been, the sinful places where you batted at the shiny object, but only so you do not go back there – or even look back longingly.  You may desire – or even crave – “the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic” (Numbers 11:5, ESV).  But, trust me, it isn’t worth it.  It is all asparagus.  Nasty, mushy, stringy, bitter, sinful asparagus.

Yikes…

“Trust in the Lord and do good…” (Psalm 37:3).  “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you” (Matthew 6:33).  “I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.  Open your mouth wide and I will fill it” (Psalm 81:10, ESV).

Amen.

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good. – Psalm 14:1 (ESV)

I am blown away!

As part of a new believer’s project I’m working on, I’ve been studying about the accuracy and validity of the Bible.  And, wow… nearly 25,000 ancient manuscripts of the New Testament – some fragments, some entire books, some the entire NT – exist.  The oldest is a fragment of John’s gospel, dated to a mere 25-70 years after the original writing.  Compare that to Homer’s The Iliad, the second best preserved ancient writing.  There are 643 copies in existence – a far cry from 25,000 NT artifacts.  And we’re not considering the Old Testament manuscripts (Dead Sea Scrolls, etc.). 

And consider the canon of Scripture itself: 66 books, written by over 40 writers from vastly different walks of life (from mighty kings to humble fishermen), on three continents in three languages using several different, disparate genres, over the span of roughly 1500 years.  And still, despite all that, is incredibly homogenous, telling one continuous story from Genesis to Revelation.  It all fits and, even more amazing, does not contradict itself at any point.  No hoax goes on for 1500 years.  Clearly, despite the 40 writers, there is obviously only One Author: God Himself. 

Yet there are still people who want to disprove the validity – and value – of Scripture.  Doubts are cast (ex.: “how can the Bible be accurate after being translated sooooooo many times?”, etc… etc… etc…).  But the proof is there.  Look at the historical data and you will see that Scripture is real, accurate and alive.

Think about it… the disciples gave their lives to Christ, and died for Him.  The same fate befell many of the early church fathers who left written testimony of the accuracy and historicity of the Scriptures.  Now, ask yourself: how many people do you know who would die for a fraud or a hoax?  Which is more delusional: to accept the incontrovertible facts of the accuracy, authority and legitimacy of the Bible – the very living and active Word of God revealed through man to the world.  Or to refuse to look at the reality of the evidence about the Bible.

Consider this:

¹⁶ All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. – 2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. ⁴ In him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it… ¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. – John 1:1-5, 14 (ESV)

Once you accept that Scripture is true and valid, you must accept all it says as such.  When Scripture makes audacious claims as being God breathed, then you must accept that this is God’s Word.  And, further still, when you realize the Word became flesh – Jesus Christ Who is God Incarnate – then denying the authority of Scripture is the same thing as saying there is no God. 

And only a fool would say there is no God.

“But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’” – Matthew 14:27 (NIV)

Poor Peter.  The guy gets a bum rap.  The gospels are replete with examples of the fisherman-turned-apostle messing up.  He says the wrong things, does the wrong things, thinks the wrong thoughts. He zealously does what he thinks is right, only to find himself (sometimes withering) on the wrong end of Jesus’ rebuke.  I mean, when Jesus looks you in the eye and says, “Get thee behind me, Satan,” that cannot be a comfortable experience.

But, give Simon Peter this much: he has moxy.  Or at least a healthy does of machismo.  Far more importantly, he loves the Lord.  One cannot deny His devotion to Jesus.  (Excepting, of course, the thrice denial of Christ during His trial, but that’s for another time.)

As I prepare to teach a Bible study on the life of the Apostle Peter, I am reminded again of just how much Cephas is like all of us.  He is truly “flawed yet chosen,” as are we.  One of Peter’s finest moments comes on the Sea of Galilee.  Jesus has sent the apostles off in a boat – and straight into a storm.  The apostles are absolutely panicked.  They probably think their boat is going to capsize and they are going to drown. 

Suddenly, Jesus appears – standing on the swirling, churning waters.  OK… imagine that if you can.  It’s the middle of the night.  You’re tired.  You’re frightened out of your wits.  You are fearing for your very life!  And then… Jesus appears, walking on the water.  Not just walking on water.  Walking on swelling waves amidst a terrifying storm.  And what does Jesus say to them?  “Take courage!  It is I.  Don’t be afraid.”

And who is the first one to recognize Jesus (although he is having a tough time believing his eyes)?  Peter.  And who steps out onto the seas when beckoned by Christ?  Peter.  And who walks on the water toward the Lord?  Peter. 

And what happens when Peter takes his eyes off Jesus and looks at the storm that is raging around him?  He begins to drown.

The lessons to glean from these few verses in Matthew are many.  But here are three key points I want us all to take away from this:

1. John Ortberg was right.  If you want to walk on water, you have to step out of the boat.  You can sit in a fetal position and rock out of fear.  Or you can stand up and step out boldly – courageously – into the future God has planned for you.

2. Jesus Christ is your courage.  If you are relying solely on your abilities and strength, you may be bitterly disappointed.  But, if you follow God – seeking first and foremost His kingdom (His will, His ways) – you will find joy, peace, abundant life!  It will take courage.  There will be people who don’t understand you or what you’re doing; who will mock you; who, frankly, will not like Who you stand for.  Find your courage, strength and acceptance in Christ.  Nothing is impossible for God!  He will meet your needs.  He will light your path.  He will guide you along the way.  He will never leave you nor abandon you.  He is in control.  So trust Him.

3. Keep your eyes on Christ!  When shooting a bow-and-arrow, one must keep his eyes looking through the sight aimed at the bullseye ahead.  Turn your gaze and you will miss the target.  Do not focus on your circumstances.  Focus on God.  Focus on His promises.  Focus on His Word.  Focus on the love of Christ.  Focus on the Creator of All Who is also Truth Himself – Existence Himself. 

In short, fear not.  You may be facing a storm in life so daunting, so terrible, that the very thought of it makes your stomach queasy.  You can’t see a way through, can’t find a way out.  You don’t know how you’ll carry on.  Whatever you do, don’t give up.  Don’t quit.  Take your eyes off your situation and focus on God.  Seek the Lord and find the courage you need to get up and step out of your boat and into that stormy sea, knowing that Jesus is right there before you – right in the middle of the chaos – and He is saying to you, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

You are not alone.  You are greatly loved – more than you can ever measure.

Live. 

Live life.

Live like there is no tomorrow.

Live life to the absolute limit.

Live with your eyes wide open, your heart wide open. your mind wide open.

Live like God is living within you (because He is).

Live for others.

Live lovingly.

Live creatively.

Live fruitfully.

Live life as you – the you God made you to be, not the “you” you think others expect you to be.

Live not seeking experiences but experiencing each moment.

Live to fill the lives of others with the love of Jesus.

Live to make your corner of the world a better place.

Live surrendered only to Jesus.

Live free, untethered by the junk of this world.

Live graciously.

Live humbly.

Live joyously.

Live led by faith, not circumstances.

Live seeking God first.

Live loving the people the LORD has placed in your life.

Live walking the path God has laid out before you.

Live strong.

Live wise.

Live investing your talents and gifts in others.

Live at peace with the LORD, with those around you, with yourself.

Live forgiving.

Live forgiven.

Live with the open curiosity of a child.

Live mercifully.

Live kindly.

Live abundantly – abundant in goodness.

Live in hope.

Live in peace.

Live in grace.

Live in the Light.

Live to give.

Live to love.

Live.

Live.

^“That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. ^And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad.” – Luke 24:13-17 [ESV]

A new year is soon upon us.  Lots of people will be making resolutions.  Lots of them will be breaking resolutions.  January 1 is always a grand milestone to turn a new leaf, drop an old habit, build a new habit, change, grow… 

Personally, I do not like New Year’s resolutions.  I think that is because I tend to fall firmly into the “breaking resolutions” column.  Diets started and stopped (I still can’t believe that Miracle Liver and Asparagus Diet didn’t last), plans drawn out and never followed…  You get the idea.

Still, I am setting goals and making plans for 2013.  But, as I do, I am keeping myself conscious of the two on the road to Emmaus. Why?  Because they were walking along, talking about Jesus and the astounding events they had just witnessed.  And they were so into what they saw with their eyes that when the unbelievable happened – when Jesus Christ Himself walked with them – they did recognize Him.

For Cleopas and his traveling companion, it was sorrow that kept them from recognizing Christ.  They were so saddened by what they had witnessed, so sure of the obvious outcome of the events they were just walking away from, that the very notion that Jesus Christ would walk beside them was simply beyond their comprehension.  Their faith – that ability to believe what is unseen, impossible – was dampened.  All they could believe was what they had seen.

Lots of junk in life can blind us to the reality of faith.  Worry, anxiety, fear, sorrow, loss, guilt, shame, illness… life situations, when focused upon with undue intensity, will blind us to the reality of Jesus Christ and the joy, peace and grace we find in Him.

As 2013 approaches, let’s all resolve to keep looking through eyes of faith, firmly fixed above on the Lord God through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.  As we make our plans, leave room for God to work.  As we face our life situations, let us do so boldly knowing that what we see with our eyes and perceive with our minds is a distorted view.  God is truth.  So seek Him and His Word if you want to know the truth about your life.  The Lord transcends our situations. 

Love God above all.  Love one another.  Trust in the Lord and do good.  Aim high and know God brings the results.  We simply need to be faithful and obedient.

© 2012 Chris Courtney.  Please feel free to share this article with anyone you think would be blessed and uplifted!  And please share this blog with others.  Thank you!!

Before I dig too deeply into this subject, I want to make sure all of you know this simple fact: these words are coming from someone who has been there, done that, and is still tripping over the potholes in his heart.  I haven’t got it all figured out.  Indeed, I often wonder if I truly have anything figured out.  All the same, I am merely a fellow traveller.  While each of us is walking down our own paths, those paths do intersect from time-to-time. 

It is at those intersections that life moments happen.  Some moments are absolutely joyous, blissful, peaceful, exhilarating.

And then, sometimes…

I was raised in rural Indiana.  Where I’m from, when you meet someone along a two-lane road, you wave “hello”.  Whether you know him or not, you signal a friendly greeting.  Why?  Simple kindness.  Courtesy.  Caring to some small degree about the stranger you happen upon along the road.

Then Ma Kettle and I moved to suburban Chicago.  And I learned that, if someone was waving at you along the road, you had probably done something to offend them (driven too slow, cut them off, looked wrong at them in the rear-view mirror), or maybe they were just overly stressed with all the hustle and bustle of traffic and traffic jams and life in general.  Not only that, they waved differently than the folks back home.

They used only one finger.

There are times when we encounter people along our path who aren’t so friendly.  Worse still is when we think them to be something kinder, more noble, than they turn out to be.  We experience all sorts of hurt along life’s path: betrayal, disappointment, depression, doubt, mourning, loss… The road ahead is riddled with potholes and eroded shoulders.  Misgivings, misunderstandings, misconceptions, mistakes – they all add up to some occasionally treacherous travel.

And, as humans, we perceive a need to blame someone.  Sometimes is it particularly – and painfully – obvious that someone has wronged us.  We’ve been intentionally undercut, undone, unfairly treated, attacked, abandoned, lied to, led down the primrose path, stabbed in the back, robbed…  Go ahead, use your own words to describe what you’ve faced.

These encounters, if allowed, can harden the heartiest traveller.  We find ourselves jealous, jaded, guarded, limping wounded and lonely through life’s path.  The journey is no longer a joy.  All because of something somebody else has said or done.  And, pretty soon, you find you don’t wave at the people you pass in the same manner you once did.

You use only one finger.

The blame for all this misery gets placed against other people.  But… there’s a problem with our unforgiving attitude.  Simply: we have no business holding grudges, remember and replaying hurts and slights.  We have to forgive.  We have to let go.  Why?

1.  We have all been the offending party along the path at some point.  Somewhere in life, each of us has hurt someone else.  Intentionally or not, we still did it.  An unkind word.  A selfish motive.  A hurtful deed.  The fact of the matter is that we are all sinners in need of forgiveness, and sin is the great equalizer.  We all need God’s forgiveness.  And that forgiveness is predicated on our forgiveness of others: “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins” (Mark 11:25, NIV).  More to the point, “if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14-15, NIV).

2.  We have all sinned against God.  Talk about someone who did not deserve mistreatment, Jesus Christ took it all for us on the cross.  At some point, each of us has acted and spoken in an offending manner against the Lord.  When we mistreat God’s children, we mistreat our Heavenly Father.  None of us deserves anything good from God.  Indeed, we His children should all be eternally grateful that He hasn’t given us what e deserve.  “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more. Review the past for me, let us argue the matter together; state the case for your innocence” (Isaiah 43:25-26, NIV).  “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12, NIV).  “The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him” (Daniel 9:9, NIV).  “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” (Acts 3:19, NIV).  “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9, NIV).  “Then he adds: ‘Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more’” (Hebrews 10:17, NIV).

3.  People aren’t our problem anyway.  “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12, NIV).  The issue is sin.  That is our problem.  Not people.  The battle is spiritual. 

So, today, let me challenge you.  Look deep in your heart and see if any unforgiveness is lurking.  If so, let it go.  Understand the problem is the sin, not the person.  Find a way to love that person – in the same manner Christ loves us, despite the fact that we do not deserve it.  Love and forgiveness are gifts freely given.  And gifts, by their very nature, cannot be earned.  Nobody deserves a gift.  The giver gives out of the motivation of love.

And, the sooner we realize the depth of our depravity is great, as is that of our brothers and sisters, but not nearly as deep as the love of God and His ability to forgive us… when we begin to apply the lessons of Jesus and forgive others – truly let go of the hurts and the grudges… we will each find this trip to be a lot more joyous, our travels a lot lighter.

God bless.

Nothing excites me like talking about Jesus.  I love to hear testimonies of how the Lord absolutely rocks lost souls and brings hope where only despair once thrived.  I love seeing how God fixes broken lives and causes His people to transcend circumstances to see the reality of Christ (not the skewed view we perceive with our eyes and minds, as through a glass darkly). 

I mean, think about it: the God of the Universe – the Creator and Sustainer of all – the One Who has always been and always will be, Who is indeed Existence Itself – the Great I AM… He has known me for all eternity.  For uncountable eons before I was formed in my mother’s womb, the Lord has known me, intimately, because I am part of His plan – no matter how small and insignificant that part might be, I am a part nonetheless.

So are you, dear one.

You are God’s child.

He has always known you, always loved you.  He has always had a slot for you in this life, and sent His Own Son – Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of Man, God Incarnate Who walked this earth for such a short time yet, through the Holy Spirit is still with us – to prepare a place for you with Him for all eternity.

Stop for just a moment and consider the very real ramifications of it all.  This is reality.  Not your circumstances.  Not your troubles.  Not your bills.  Not your ailments.  Not the bullies in your life or the job that drives you up a tree.  Not the family troubles that plague you or the perceived weakness and failures you have endured in this life.  The way you see your life, your situation, yourself, is not quite 20/20. 

Understand this, if you are a child of God – if you have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of your life and chosen to make Him Lord of your life, you are no longer lost.

You are not helpless.

You are not hopeless.

You are not Fatherless.

You are not cursed.

You are not your circumstances.

You are not what others blame you of being.

You are not the sum total of your sins.

You are not a failure.

What you are is the child of the One True God. 

12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16  The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32  He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34  Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:12-39 (ESV)

Let all that soak in for awhile.  It is a lot to take in.  And I plan on digging deeper into these verses over the next several weeks.

Can we talk?  God loves you.  I don’t know what you are facing, but He does.  I don’t know the circumstances that led you to where you are now, but the Lord understands.  I do, however, know that the answer to whatever ails you is Jesus Christ.  You can find it in His Word.

So, please… repent and ask for forgiveness.  Seek God first.  Pray.  Rest in Him.  Ask.  Seek.  Knock.  Love the Lord and those around you. 

And know that you are loved.

Sleep well, brothers and sisters. 

And get excited to talk about the Lord and all the wonderful, amazing things He has done in our lives – in your life.  Let Him stir you up.  Let your faith flame burn bright and hot!

More again soon. 

Good night, dear ones.

5  “These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. 9 Acquire no gold nor silver nor copper for your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, nor two tunics nor sandals nor a staff, for the laborer deserves his food.” – Matthew 10:5-10 (ESV)

I do not pack light.  When we travel, I lug as much reading and writing material as I can.  In fact, come to think of it, I do not pack light when I go anywhere.  I always want to be ready if and when the opportunity to write or study comes along.  So I lug a lot of stuff around.

Our lives are like that, aren’t they?  We tend to lug a lot of stuff – much of it junk – around with us, everywhere we go.  I read Matthew 10 and I think, “What??  Go out in the desert and walk from village to village with no money, no extra clothes, not even a walking stick?”  If I leave the house without my cell phone, I practically break out in hives.  But… no wallet?  C’mon, Jesus… what are you up to?

Let me ask you: what do you need?  I mean really, really need.  There was a time when I would have said, “Cable TV.  We gotta have cable.  What if a big storm comes up?  I need to protect my family, so I need to be able to watch the weather radar and see if a tornado is coming.  What if some big world event takes place?  I need to stay informed.  What if TBS runs a 24-hour Friends marathon?” 

OK… I could care less about the sitcom reruns.  But, think about it… if the storm is so big that the power goes out, there goes the cable.  If some world event occurs that is so massive we need to be alert, being glued to the tube isn’t the action.  Besides, what can I do sitting on my sofa, worrying and stewing about something I have no control over?

Bingo.  Therein lies the rub.  We all have worries aplenty.  What if we don’t have enough in our 401(k) to retire?  What if I can’t pay these medical bills?  What if my child doesn’t improve his behavior?  What if she can’t get into a good college?  What if our country goes over the “fiscal cliff”?  What if this job interview doesn’t pan out?  What if… what if… what if…  If we follow the trail of “what ifs” – the worries, the fears, the things that wake us up at 3am – we will often find our perceived needs.

Or, rather, our perceived lack.

Later, when Jesus was gathered with His disciples one last time, He reminded them of their first venture out as His apostles. 

35 And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” – Luke 22:35 (ESV)

What did they lack?  Nothing.  Did they eat five-star meals and stay in fine hotel suites?  No.  Did they go hungry?  No.  Were their needs met?  Absolutely.

The point Jesus is making is this: all His children need is Him.  The LORD is our sufficiency.  As Jesus told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness: (2 Cor. 12:9, ESV).  We lug around a lot of junk, and – time to get metaphorical – I don’t necessarily mean physical, tangible things (although most of us have way too much of that as well).  Memories, hurts and fears, scars from situations we have faced, sin, societal pressure, peer pressure, work pressure, disappointments, grudges… Some of us are like big, emotional pachyderms: an elephant never forgets.

We don’t necessarily need to forget.  But we do need to learn to lean on God’s grace.  We need to trust in the LORD, have enough faith in Jesus to know He cares for our every true need.  We need to develop a faith in Christ that carries us through this path of life that each of us walks.  And, as we meet one another where our roads intersect, we need to help one another.  Support one another.  Encourage one another.  Love one another.

Love one another.

Today, I want to challenge you to consider your needs.  Are they real needs, or deep desires masquerading as a “need”?  Is your head sore from beating against a stone wall trying to fulfill a “need” all on your own?  Is there a need in your life that is too big for the God of the Universe, the Creator and Sustainer of all, Existence Himself?  If Jesus can raise Lazarus from the grave after four days (remember, Lazarus stunketh)… indeed, if Jesus Christ Himself can endure the beating, scouring and crucifixion, only to rise again on the third day, overcoming death… do you suppose He can meet your needs? 

Do you suppose when Jesus says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matt 6:33-34, ESV), maybe we should heed His Word?  He is no liar.  He is no deceiver.  Take God at His Word.  Trust Jesus.

The LORD is truly all we need.

(Postscript: By the way, we did ditch cable.  Well, we knocked it down to the basic local channels.  But we also bought a Roku.  Progress is sometimes very slow…)