A realization... while waiting...

"The LORD is my Shepherd; there is nothing that I want."

Psalm 23:1

So I took a couple of days to spend in focused prayer over what to say next, and this came to me last night.  However, I wanted to wait until I had some confirmation of it... and then Psalm 23 was on today's reading plan when I opened my notes.  I'm gonna call that confirmation.

The point today is somewhat obvious, but it needs to be stated for all to see and hear and learn and know, for all time.  God is in control.  Yeah, that's really it.

He is our Shepherd.  He protects, provides, leads, walks with, returns to the fold, chases the wayward... and His presence is always a comfort to all who need Him.  I want nothing in life, because He is here with me, right now, and will never leave.  He allows us all things, friend... all things.

And it should be noted that David did not say that he wanted "only a few things."  He wants NOTHING.  God provides the needs, and the wants are irrelevant.  The same is true for us.  Our needs are met... it's our wants that we linger upon, when we should want for nothing.  We should want only to give our desires to Him, and in that giving we should know that we will be blessed for our faithfulness.  He does care, and He is there and He will provide.

Rest today in the knowledge that God is the great Shepherd, and that He cares for you.  We are His flock, and we receive one-with-one attention in all aspects of our lives, no matter how small or unimportant the issue may seem.  And like the ticks and gnats picked off of sheep, He takes the time needed to clean us and purify us.

Thank You, Father, for all You are and all You do for all of us. 

God bless you all!!!

Waiting in silence... again...

"Now listen! You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time."

Luke 1:20

So Zechariah had doubts... and that made him mute... but can you imagine what happened afterward?  Can you imagine the thought process during the silence?  All I would be able to ponder on is how I was unable to speak, and that this was an awesome display of God's power! 

And then he wrote the name of his son, John, and he was able to speak.  I can imagine it would be something like this...

AMEN!  I can speak again, and my son's name is John, now I tell you I know that we don't have anyone by the name of John, but I'm gonna call him that, because the Archangel Gabriel told me that would be my son's name, and then I doubted, and then I got to sit here all quiet and think about how powerful God was and how I should have had faith, and then all I did was agree to and thereby confirm the prophecy that my son would be John and now here I am just a-talkin' up a storm once again, and I tell you my blessed friends, I will never again doubt the power of the Lord our God ever again after going through all this time being unable to speak or make sounds or anything, because I know that it was He who silenced me out of His own power because I failed to believe completely that He was and is able to do any and all things and even beyond that, so yeah, the baby is John and we will all be blessed from the period of silence and the faithfulness to wait through it and the name of the boy and the fact that the Lord is already with him, and amen and amen and amen again, for the Lord taught me a lesson that I wish to be known to all of you as a living testimony of the need to believe Him.  Were you trying to say something?

Can you hear him?  I can... I have always been talkative, though, so to not be able to speak for 9-10 months would be (while a blessing for some) absolute torture for me.  And I would be pondering on what to say when I was relieved of the silence.  And I think I would only be able to speak of how amazingly powerful God is!

Know today that He is more than capable to do any and all things.  And He loves you, and His grace is something that we probably should take a period of silence to ponder and just think upon.  I mean, after all, what would it hurt to think of just how much God loves us for a little while each day, right?  So do this tonight, and repeat it tomorrow and every day after, encourage someone to join you in the practice and honor the Lord in doing so!

God bless you all!!!  

No doubts...

"Now listen!  You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time."

Luke 1:20

Those words come from Gabriel as he speaks to Zechariah.  Gabriel has just told Zechariah, a priest, that he and his wife would have a son.  Zechariah simply asked how, pointing out the earthly limitations of that prophecy... and Gabriel silenced Zechriah from then till the eighth day of John's life... all for doubt.

Zechariah, like any husband, had prayed for a son.  He wanted to be a father, and was waiting for that time to come in his life.  He was serving and active, and he was performing all his duties.  But when his prayer was answered, he doubted... why?  Because he is human.

And make certain you get this point, friends, that he didn't doubt some seemingly random road sign or phone call.  He doubted the Archangel Gabriel, physically present before Zechariah's own eyes.  He looked into the face of the one who will blow the trumpet, and asked "How?"  One of two things is true here: either Zechariah is extremely bold, and challenges the authority of the angel, not accepting who he says he is, or Zechariah cannot help himself with certain things, because he is of flesh.  I think you know which is the truth.

God is God, friends, and when He makes a promise, it is real and it is permanent.  It will be just as He says it will, and if He decides to send Gabriel to tell you about it, then you need to be faithful and accept the provision with joy!  Or you can wander around mute, unable to minister and witness and speak to the power of the blessing coming, because you had doubts about the power that exudes from the Throne. 

Don't be "that" believer... you believe in Him, so BELIEVE HIM!!!  And even though Gabriel pointed out that his words would be fulfilled "in their proper time," and that was almost a year later, they were fulfilled.  So take heart, know that the promises made to all Christians are true for you and all believers, encourage another in this powerful truth and honor the Lord in doing so!

God bless you all!!! 

What we go through...

"What if the road to the goal were the easiest road, and I never learned what I know?"

From the song "For The Heartbreak" by Downhere, off their album, On The Altar Of Love

I have to add a short point of truth that just leapt from my iPod to my heart... it has hit me before, and it has been written about on here before, but this is important to me today.  I would ask that all of you watch the video attached, and then think about the pains and struggles you have gone through.  Are you willing to thank God for the pains, based upon their results thus far?

Imagine that line, and think about where you may be if you had not failed and gone through difficulty after difficulty after difficulty in life.  These plans all work together for good eventually, and the path we are all on is meant for learning.  So learn!

You'll love the words of this song, and I know you'll be as blessed by these gentlemen as I am.  From that, though, go forward and share this wisdom as encouragement for someone, and honor the Lord in doing so!

God bless you all!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Abghc_WYBN8&feature=player_embedded

Sunday's thought...

"He mocks those who mock, but gives grace to the humble."

Proverbs 3:34

QBQ - Am I humble?  Do I listen?  Or am I merely awaiting my turn to reply in rebuttal?

This is a difficult concept for every person alive.  And for anyone who believes otherwise, I would say that you are wrong.  We are self-centered creatures, due to the sin nature that exists within us all, and only through Christ can we break that mold.  But seriously ask yourself today whether you are waiting for the Lord's leading as you answer or act, or if you are just waiting for the moment to come... the truth of that might shock you.

I keep a host of post-it notes and scribblings on calendars with "3:34" written on it to remind me of this powerful truth.  It is necessary, because I am human.  And, while this may come as a surprise to some, anyone reading this on the planet earth is also human: born of the same sin-tainted line of Adam as me, and in the same need of this reminder as me, regardless of how severe the degree of that need might be.

Think and pray about how you listen today.  Do not mock, regardless of what comes.  Encourage someone by knowing and living this truth, and honor the Lord in doing so!

May He bless you!!! 

Waiting... in silence...

"The Lord will fight for you: you must be quiet."

Exodus 14:14

We are the vessels; not the captains.  We are the vehicles; not the drivers.

And "be quiet" says to me that we should silence our flesh, above all else, and listen for His leading.  We may very well speak, but it will be because He has led us to do so.  If we speak or sing or write or teach or preach from our own flesh and thoughts, and not from Him, then we serve our own purposes.  But if we allow Him to teach us (and each person will learn differently, through different circumstances and different verses, even though all will come under the One Truth that Christ is King), and we accept the blessings He brings... even and especially when they are meant to bring us away from certain things... then He will tell us what to say and when.

He fights for me today, and I know it as certainly as I know that I type here to you.  He fights for you, too, brothers and sisters.  Say a prayer of thanks for that today, and honor the Lord in doing so!

God bless you all!!!

Still waiting...

"LORD, You are my portion and my cup of blessing; You hold my future."

Psalm 16:5

Sometimes, even as we wait, we must be reminded of Who it is that holds the future itself.  So I chose this verse today as I was reading, and I found it appropriate to think about the power that comes in that statement.  He holds the future.  

Did you notice what is not in that statement?  There is no qualifier as to what the "future" is, and therefore we must infer that it refers to the entire future, all of time, all the way to the end... which, by the way, is a decision He alone can make... and all circumstances and events included in that timeline.  He holds the future.  Does that make you feel smaller?  It does for me.

"We want to walk beyond our circumstances, but our feet run into our advances."  This line comes from a hidden track on a Downhere album, and it says in the chorus, "Remind us that we have not reached home."  (Easily, they are my favorite artists in all Christian music.)  These two lyrics from this hidden gem of wisdom point directly back to the Truth that He holds the future: we have not yet arrived.

Take a moment today to give thanks that your journey has not yet ended, and that you get to continue experiencing and sharing His truth with all you encounter.  Move forward, confident in the promises that He has made for us all.  Know that because He holds your future, that makes it more secure than anything, encourage another in this and honor the Lord in doing so!

God bless you all!!!

Waiting... in tough times...

"Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."

Psalm 23:4

It can seem sometimes like we walk through that valley, can't it?  When we have grown numb to the gentle breeze of the Lord's kindness, and it seems as though there is no hope; when we seek but cannot seem to find; when we ask, but do not have, because we do not ask rightly.  It is in these times that we often feel (in our flesh) abandoned... but it is we who have abandoned Him.

You want to know a neat little truth, though?  He's still there.  And there is no reason to fear anything with Him near you, because there is no power under Heaven that He did not create!  He is able, more than we can ever know, to do anything.  Can you imagine what it would be like to be able to do anything?  Think about that for a second... GOD CAN DO ANYTHING!!!

I wrote about this verse once, asking the question, "How dark is the darkest valley" of my small group of young men that I teach.  I described it for them by asking that we sit in silence, in the dark, with no sound, until each person could hear their own heart beat.  It is in those darkness's in life that even our own positive self-affirmations of why we did such-and-such will not hold up.  In that darkness, one that you can feel and touch, there is nothing to allow one to lie, even to oneself.  It is terrifying to have that kind of solitude, where nothing can help and no one is there and every time the wind changes, it feels as loud as hurricane-force winds blowing past your ear.  Can you feel it?  You wouldn't even want to speak, for fear someone might be listening and hear you, and then where would you go in such a darkness, when you can see nothing?

But as we keep moving forward in the world, when we come to those times, we must remember that He is there!  He is present, and His truth surmounts all.  His truth is what will guide us through the valley, so that we may once again stand on the peak of the mountain and worship with all our might!  And, to further my original teaching on this verse, the Psalmist describes the Lord as a Shepherd, which would make us sheep.  And sheep operate solely on instinct, having no capability for rational thought... but knowing their shepherd, they go where he goes.  And we know our Shepherd, and He is with us, and that means we can trust this path!

I am not in a valley this morning, but I have been in some in my life, and I have been guilty of not praising His presence.  Today, after the encouragement I have received from some in my current endeavors, and with the presence of God more real than ever in this precise location and moment for me, I encourage you to praise Him for being there... because whether you believe it or not, He is there!  And seeing is not believing, friends; believing is seeing!  And when you believe on Him, and He moves through your heart with a wave of peace to remind you of just how powerful He is, you will feel so blessed.  So today, for each of you, I offer encouragement for you to find that moment, and believe upon Him and Him alone for all things and honor the Lord is doing so!

God bless you all!!!      

Stand strong... while waiting...

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:6

People often begin to wander in thought while they wait for things, don't they?  Have you ever called someone on the phone, and while it was ringing, you thought about something else, and then forgot who it was you were calling?  And then they answer, and you say something like, "Uh, hey, how are you?"  Hopefully, it comes to you quickly and you don't embarrass yourself (as I have many times) by not recalling who is on the other end. 

The same is true in our faith and our walk.  We wait for the Lord to come, and we wait anxiously for His glory to appear to us.  I count myself among those who wish for the Second Coming to be soon, and I would love to be one of those who are blessed to see it.  But then the world happens, and life happens, and we begin to wonder (and wander in thought) about what else could go wrong.

That wondering brings about doubt, which brings fear, which brings more doubt, which brings deeper fear.  But the wisdom of Moses is as solid today as it was in the desert!  We have nothing to fear, ever, from anyone.  Look at it this way: the worst thing that could happen to anyone is death, but we have a Redeemer and Champion who has overcome death!  We do not die, but we are transformed into something more; something greater; something that we cannot understand; and then we get to commune with Him directly!

And for those who would say that the Lord has walked away, I would refer you to yesterday's posting on that topic.  God doesn't walk away... we do.  And God doesn't hide from us... we shield ourselves in worldly things, and lose the ability to see and hear Him.  The point of all that is that God is constant: we are the ones who change and adjust, for good and bad, and back to good (this is my prayer for all, that they would return back to good).

Take heart today, even in your time of waiting and your period of stillness, that the Lord is with you!  He is with you!  He is with you!  He is with you!  And trust me, if God says "I will never leave you, nor forsake you," that is a promise for all of eternity and then some.  He is not bound by time and space like we are, and that means His promises are not bound in that way, either.  So be encouraged, find strength in His presence, encourage someone else in this powerful truth and honor the Lord is doing so!

God bless you all!!! 

No arrogance...

"Lord, why do You stand so far away?  Why do You hide in times of trouble?"

Psalm 10:1

I have a short point today, and it is this: is it the Lord who has moved to make the distance between He and us "so far away?"  Is it He who hides when times get tough?  Or are we guilty of separating ourselves, through our own actions and choices, and therefore dampening our sensitivity to His voice?

We humans are so arrogant; so fickle; so awful.  We really believe that God walks away from us when times get tough, and that we are left to fend for ourselves, and that we succeed all on our own.  We actually assume that we are capable just as we are, right now, to overcome trials with little to no assistance from above.  For that impudence, it is a wonder that God doesn't wash us all away immediately.

Granted, not all human beings think this way all the time... but if you think that you never do, then you are lying to yourself.  We all do get that full of ourselves every once in a while, and God is faithful to provide some circumstance to bring us back down to earth soon after.  But think about this for a moment: in those troubled times, isn't He closer than ever? 

So something goes wrong, and you feel like God abandoned you, and then you break down at some point and pray.  (Novel thought, I know, but people run right past it most of the time... including me.)  And as you pray, you begin to focus your perception and whittle away the nonsense that exists in the situation.  And then, as you clear the path to the answer, you remove your self-inflicted fog and see that God has been right where He always was the entire time.  You see, He is not hiding; in those times when you trust the world for answers, you lose focus and cannot see Him.  And then you feel bad for doubting, you recommit and move forward in your walk, and eventually this cycle will play out again.  The beautiful thing is that when next it comes, it will be shorter than before!  And this is a repetitive pattern for us all... how quickly you get down to an instinctive response of focused prayer is your choice.

Take a moment today to pray... really pray from your deepest point of love and gratitude for all that God has done and continues to do for you.  Thank Him for always being there, and admit that you are the one who walks away when it seems you are alone.  It's not easy, but this level of openness leads to enhanced Spiritual maturity.  And, I promise, you will honor the Lord in growing so!

God bless you all!!!

And this, too... while waiting...

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

Hebrews 13:8

I cannot speak for you, but if I know humanity I know I can't be alone in this one.  I am always in such a hurry!  I race and race and fight to become better, faster, smarter, stronger in whatever the endeavor or task, and always I try to get things done quickly.  I have a sense of urgency about things, and that allows me to prioritize and move forward... but what happens when my prioritization technique lacks consistency?  What happens when I run today and walk tomorrow?  Will my results and outcomes be the same?

In short... no.

But as I am learning to slow down and take stock of things in a broader sense, I am finding that the most powerful truth about Jesus is His consistency!  It ties to everything, you know, because His love is consistent, never changing; His peace is consistent; His grace is consistent; His blessing onto us is consistent; His presence is consistent; His atonement, while a single event, carries consistent results to this very day; He is consistent!  And the best part of His consistency is that His results are infallible, they are irrefutable, they are forever and ever, world without end!

Now that you're thinking about that, ponder on the amount of time being spent on achieving those results to their fullest potential.  Think about the patience involved in creating an entire universe... then life on a single planet... then the eons and millennia that have passed since that beginning... and we aint through yet!  Until He comes back, we are here to press on toward the goal, and to teach and bless others to do the same when we leave.  But we came on His timeline, and you can be certain we will leave on His timeline.

He is consistent, and we can only hope to strive for consistency.  We will never match His pattern of remaining the same forever, but we can try to keep certain things in life the same.  It should be noted, though, that His consistency has nothing to do with appearance or physical being: it's about the behaviors He shows.  And that is something we can aspire to!  We can have a consistent reading life, a consistent love for our Lord, for our spouse, for our children, a consistent prayer life, a consistent study life, a consistent work ethic, etc.  We can attempt to mirror His consistency in these ways.

But do we?  Again, I can answer in a single word: no.  We change and shift and adjust with whatever the latest fad is, following the next great speaker who happens to cite a verse or two from Scripture.  We change our clothes and hair and cars and homes based on trend and keeping up with the Jones family, and we are never satisfied with anything we have.  The divorce rate in our country has spiraled out of control, the options for anything you can think of are literally limitless, and we hide behind the "freedom of choice" and "free will" as we openly choose against our Father and Savior.  But He does not change... ever.

Be grateful today that He is always the same.  I'll say that again: be grateful today that He is always the same.  The alternative is not a positive one, for sure... but we have nothing to fear from that, because He is the SAME, immutable, unchanging, consistent... FOREVER AND EVER AND EVER!!!  Give thanks for His unchanging love and compassion today, and honor the Lord in doing so!

God bless you all!!!   

Think on this... while you wait...

"LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!"

Psalm 8:1

While we wait, and this one will be short today, please think upon Whom we are awaiting.  And I have a question for you on that topic.

How many friends do you have?  Better still, how many people know who you are, by name?  I can say that there are thousands I have met, but not all remember me.  I am just another guy in a lot of my interactions, honestly.  But we all play a role of importance for some people, and they remember our names forever.  But, at most, I would guess (for myself) somewhere in the 500 range, if asked how many people could see me and know me by name.  The same is probably true of you, as well.

But the One we await is known by all... ALL!  He is known, by Name, to all the people of the earth who have ever lived.  He is known, by Name, to every animal and every blade of grass.  No one could ever say that they did not know of Him.  Whether or not they "got to know" Him is a different matter, one of choices that must be made and a process that must be followed... but they all know of Him.

So, once again, I will admonish you to remember to Whom you speak when you pray.  He is the most well-known being... well, ever... anywhere... and we cannot put Him on our schedule.  He has us already on His schedule, and we will play our roles into His greater purpose.  Thank Him for that certainty and confidence today, praise His Name in all its majesty, and honor the Lord in doing so!

God bless you all!!!

Waiting... and resting...

"I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety."

Psalm 4:8

So I mentioned yesterday that I started a new reading plan in my Bible, and this morning I found this verse... after an extremely peaceful and restful night of sleep.  The funny thing about this is that I have not been able to sleep through the night recently, and I have not yet been able to ascertain why.  I have been waking at around 3 a.m. for various reasons, and then going back to sleep without incident, but last night I slept right through it all.  (I even slept through the alarm, truth be told.)

But I got to thinking about how I continue to prepare myself for the best that God has for me, the blessings yet to come, and I realized that yesterday I really saturated myself with God's Word.  I mean, I read more yesterday than I usually do (embarrassing, yet encouraging to admit), and I was literally exhausted by the end of the day.  I slept peacefully, soundly and I feel far better today than I did in days prior.

The key to all of this is the preparation piece.  As I wait for what He will deliver me to, I continue to prepare for that day.  I keep moving forward, and I keep increasing my endurance for His purpose, and I continue to stretch my own limits of how much I can take in at once.  And He continues to bless me with the discovery that I can keep growing still!  And how do I know that I can continue?  How do I know that I can persevere?  Because He is here!

Jehovah-shammah, the Lord is there, is what I call out in gratitude as I study.  He is with me as I grow, and He blesses me constantly to endure and persevere and continue, by His grace and peace and love.  And it is His presence that delivers the safety I need to attempt to stretch beyond my perceived limits: I know that He will catch me if I fall off the tightrope, you see.  That safety and security allows me peace as I learn.  And it allows me peace as I sleep.  (By the way, He is with you, too, blessed one.)

Take time today to say a prayer of thanks for the Lord's presence in your life.  Thank Him for allowing you the peace and security needed to search for Him and His will for you.  And even though you may be waiting and preparing for something better, something which He will bring you to, never forget that our calling is FIRST to be faithful to Him and continue in the growth of knowledge and love and prayer.  Be encouraged, start saturating your life with the Lord and the Word, and honor the Lord in doing so!

God bless you all!!!

P.S. - a dear friend of mine is releasing an album called "Saturate," with a title track of the same name soon; seek out his voice of wisdom on the web, and be certain to pick up his album when it launches.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sulRJjw-d4U

Seasons...

"How happy is the man who does not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path of sinners, or join a group of mockers!  Instead, his delight is in the Lord's instruction, and he meditates on it day and night.  He is like a tree planted beside streams of water that bears its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.  Whatever he does prospers."

Psalm 1:1-3

It is always said that everything has a season.  People and circumstances are all alike, in that their influence over any person has a beginning and an end, just as a journey that accompanies their respective presence.  But the important realization of this truth that we all must dig deep and realize is that each of these moments does have a season... and so do we!

We have discussed Moses, and tomorrow I think I may go into another giant of the Old Testament, but the truth is that we have to get it through our heads that we operate on His timeline, not on our own.  And perhaps I struggle with this, and that is why I am belaboring the point so greatly.  Perhaps this is just me talking to me about this particular issue.  And if that is the case, then so be it, and thanks for putting up with my slowness to learn it completely.

But if you struggle with this, as well, please join me today in reading through Psalm 1.  I have begun a path of reading through the Bible, and this was on my reading list today.  It tells me that there are two ways to be: right and wrong.  With God is right.  The other... well... is wrong.  And please notice, there is a clear distinction between the two.  It is not right and "not quite right,"  or "almost right," or "just close enough to call it right in front of others without actually being right," you see.  It is right and wrong.

Read through it today, and take the time to pray over your current season.  Recognize that fruit out of season is no good, and that you are (just as I am and everyone else is) being primed for your perfect season on His timeline.  And know that while the fruit is representative of the season in which we will be ready, the leaf that does not wither is symbolic of our ability to make it to that season.  We will arrive at that time, as the leaf does not wither.

Share encouragement in this with someone today - just one person that you know who may need to hear it.  Focus on being prepared for the season when it comes, because we have no idea when it will, be certain you will be ready and honor the Lord in doing so!

God bless you all!!!

Waiting... just waiting...

"Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD."

Psalm 27:14

You know... there's a lot of things that I can say about waiting and having patience, but the best thing that I can ever tell you is to just to wait.  At the appropriate time, the Lord will come.  And at that time, all you need will be delivered. 

Please make note, though, that all you need is NOT the same thing as all you WANT.  God already knows what you need, and when the time is right, He will bring it to you.  He will do this in His time, because (and this one is important) sometimes we need to become more dependent on Him.  And sometimes that means we need to have things move a little more slowly than we would like.  And sometimes, as things begin to slow down, we become increasingly more aware of the gentle breeze that blows across as God speaks truth into us through the Spirit.  It is in those moments that we come closer than ever to the Lord, as we recognize that He is always closest to us when it is hardest to stand.

Fear not, blessed ones, for He is near, even when you don't think so.  Never forget that He is faithful, and He will not let His righteous fall.  And give thanks today and every other day from now on that we have the privilege to wait on the Lord.  We will grow stronger, and we will get closer to Him, and He will deliver in His time... and as we move forward, we will honor the Lord in doing so!

God bless you all!!!

Waiting... for His purpose...

"Meanwhile Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian."

Exodus 3:1a

I have been patient in my waiting to write this post... but I feel it is the time to say what must be said on this topic, and Moses is the best example I can think of, because most of you will think of the film version, or the hero of the Israelites.  These are somewhat accurate.  But there is something more important that we must look to.

Moses was in Midian, tending that flock of sheep when God called him.  Did you know that Moses tended that flock of sheep for forty years?  No, I did not make a mistake and accidentally add a zero to the four... forty years.  He patiently and calmly went about his tasks as a husband and father and family member and shepherd for forty years, and then, in God's time, Moses was called to greatness.  Did you catch that?  In God's time, Moses was called to greatness.

There was always a plan, and God knew what He would do with Moses and Aaron, but it would NOT become reality until God deemed it time to happen.  And that took forty years.  So now, my beloved and blessed friends, I am forced to pose to you a question.  This question will seem pointed and slightly uncomfortable, but it is a necessary one to ask.  To ease the difficulty of it, though, I will ask it of myself.

Who do I think I am that I believe I can rush God into making things happen on my timeline?  How much arrogance do I display when I assume that my prayer request will take enough importance in His schedule that I can dictate how quickly it will be answered, regardless of the actual answer?  More importantly, why would I assume that I can have the answer I wish for at all, even if I was patient enough for His timeline?  I must have forgotten... placing earthly timelines onto Heavenly concepts is equal to blasphemy.  Am I that prideful?  Am I that arrogant?  Am I that bad?  

Pray today, friends... pray that you will have the courage to repeat that last paragraph as it applies to you.  Pray that you are approaching the Throne with reverence.  Pray that you are putting the will and timing of God first in your prayers... and then teach another to do this.  I promise, you will honor the Lord, and His timeline, as you do so!

God bless you all!!! 

September 11...

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

John 15:13

Ten years ago at this time, I was sitting in my Psychology class, listening to my professor... and then an upperclassman came by the door, and announced that we were going to war.  The silence in the room was stunning, and we all moved to the one television in our small college, and huddled around watching as the smoke rose from the towers.

I will never forget that moment.

But today, ten years later, I want to take a moment to say thank you to all of our local heroes, and I ask that you do the same.  For all the firefighters, the police officers, the EMTs and those who support these selfless and sacrificing people, I say thank you.  You have the highest honor and respect that I can afford to give another human being, for you put your life on the line every single time you go to work... and you do it willingly, with no thought for yourself.  You are the embodiment of what it means to truly love your people, your city, your state, your country. 

I would like to personally and specially thank my very own little brother, who serves on the police force in our home state of Louisiana, in Calcasieu Parish.  Your willingness to protect and serve others is a trait that I greatly admire in you... you are my hero.

And for all those who serve or have served in the US Armed Forces, including several friends and family members of mine, please know that you, too, have my greatest admiration and respect.  There is nothing more powerful than the love that you show in your willingness to defend America against any enemy, keeping our people and our freedom safe.  I thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

Take a moment today to reflect on your memory of what happened ten years ago.  And remember those who were lost... but also remember those who charged in fearless, ready to search and save those who were in need of rescue.  Remember those who walked in with eyes open, ready to lay down their lives to save others.  They represent the very BEST of what it means to be human... to be American.

Find a First Responder close to you today, and tell them you appreciate their service to our community.  I guarantee it will be a blessing to both of you to share those words of encouragement, and you will honor the Lord in doing so!

God bless you all!!!

Change in focus...

"My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" Your face, LORD, I will seek."

Psalm 27:8

Yesterday we went through how important it is to follow the Spirit's leading and seek the Lord's face.  Today I would to like to look at what that does not mean.  No, that's not a typo... you'll see what I mean in a second. 

But for starters, please just focus on the idea of a face.  Any face will do, but no other portion of the body is allowed in this example.  What is it that a face can give you?  If you answered "expression," then you are correct.  And this expression is often something by which we judge response and reaction.  This is how we can outwardly tell if something we are saying is being well-received or not, just as it is one way we can tell if someone is pleased with us or not.  In the liturgical rite, the phrase "may the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace" is often used to describe (as best humans can) the peaceful look on God's face that assuages us in times of distress.

However, did you notice that seeking His face is not the same thing as seeking His hand?  Ahh... there's a moment of realization for us all, I think.  Weeks ago, in discussing the readiness of the feet by the Gospel (as connected to the Armor of God study in the post "The feet... in closing..."), I mentioned that we have no business charging in and demanding things without being willing to listen.  I also pointed out that we cannot afford to miss the best part of our relationship, which is listening to Him speak to and through us, just because we were busy seeking favor and favors.  He's not a magician, hired to perform parlor tricks on a whim: He is God, and there is no other.

And before you get too down about it, know that you are not alone in this trial.  But as my mentor so wisely pointed out yesterday, when you raise your awareness and start actively seeking His face, rather than His hand, your prayer life takes a turn for the positive.  You begin to seek His will in all things, rather than seeking what you perceive to be necessary to overcome whatever you're facing.  And when you seek His will, I have no doubt that His countenance will be made to look upon you and grant you peace!

Take a moment today to pray with determined and purposeful spirit to seek ONLY His face, and ask for nothing but that privilege.  Pray intensely that you can rightly adjust your attitude towards prayer for the accomplishment of His will and His purpose, and for nothing else.  Don't misunderstand: you certainly are always encouraged to seek and ask for whatever it is you chase, but it must be done with the opening of "if it be Your will, {insert request here}."  Try it today, give thanks for the opportunity to seek Him directly and not through other people and honor the Lord in doing so!

God bless you all!!! 

Listen... and follow...

"My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" Your face, LORD, I will seek."

Psalm 27:8

As we study waiting on the Lord, and we have covered that we are not to become inactive, it seems appropriate that we would come to this Psalm today.  Because it is a discipline to seek the face of God, and it is a practice that Christians must pursue.  But where it begins is the most interesting part, by far.

The Psalmist says that his heart tells him to seek the face of the Lord.  And he follows this leading!  Our brains and stomachs and lungs and feet all attempt to lead us at one time or another.  The brain says we should go do or buy something; the stomach tells us we're hungry; the feet scream for either reprieve... or better shoes... but what do you do when your heart leads you?

Have you ever heard someone say that something "tugged on their heartstrings" about something?  They, in that moment, for whatever reason, were being led by their heart.  And if the heart is where we hide the Word (and it is), and it is where the Spirit speaks to us (and it is), then is it reasonable to assume that when you feel pulled to something it just might be a calling?  Do you think that you just might be receiving instruction?  Do you think maybe you should follow it?

Take time today to look into your own heart, and recognize that your heart, too, tells you to seek the face of God.  Whether or not you follow that leading is up to you, friends.  However, I can promise you that when you do follow it, the discoveries and the blessings and the warmth that comes from simply accepting that call are far greater than one can imagine until it happens.  So seek His face today, encourage others to do the same, and honor the Lord in doing so!

God bless you all!!!

No laziness...

"We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised."

Hebrews 6:12

I will hit this topic again today, because it is always a danger for any believer to fall into the trap of just waiting.  And, again, I will reference John Waller's song from the movie FIREPROOF, in that we should be worshipping and serving and actively participating while we wait upon the Lord for His answer to whatever it is we seek.

I will reference another song, as well, in that our strength does rise as we wait upon the Lord.  We wait, and as we face and overcome the test to become impatient, we grow stronger.  We grow closer.  And with every passing moment, we learn to have a deeper and greater trust in His supreme wisdom!

I mentioned once to a friend that I would admonish people in varying circumstances to "fake it till they make it," and this is no different.  Paul is telling the Hebrews of the day to "imitate" the people who have already inherited the Promise!  Imitate them... so do like they do, regardless of what anyone says.  A favorite author of mine says that if you want to be rich, you have to do rich people things.  Well, if you want to know how to wait on the Lord with purpose and faith and expectancy, then you have to do Christian things, and that starts with finding someone to imitate.

Now, please do not misunderstand me on this point, because I do believe that a small beginning can come from mere imitation on a surface level.  But to fully imitate someone, you would have to ask them what it is they feel, how they pray, what they seek and what attitude they carry.  It's not just about the posture they hold, but also about the focus they maintain and the attitude they exude.  You have to find someone that you can imitate who then becomes a mentor, as I have, and then you can learn how to study; you can learn how to read; you can learn how to pray; you can learn how to teach; you can learn how to share; you can learn how to encourage; you can learn how to wait.

Take time today to focus on your level of activity, once more.  I assure you, it is repetitive for the necessary reason that it simply MUST be a practice we adopt as permanent.  We are all waiting for something to be answered from above right now, regardless of what it is.  Keep seeking Him, never stop taking time to sit quietly and listen for Him to answer, and honor the Lord in doing so!

God bless you all!!!

What now...

"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."

1 Corinthians 15:58

So we're sitting quietly... we're praying without speaking... we're thinking about bills to pay... we're reminding ourselves that we're supposed to be thinking of nothing... and it's still too quiet.  So what do we do?  Do we sit and just waste away waiting for the answer or unction to overcome us and take us up to our feet and into action?  No.

Prayer has been accurately described to me as being (metaphorically) a muscle.  For its greatest use, it must be strengthened and exercised.  It is possible that one can sit and wait for many, many hours, days and months and even years or more before getting that answer.  But that does not mean that the task is any less important or deserves any less attention.  It just means that it is not yet time for you to know the answer.

And in the mean time, we do just as the song suggests.  "I will serve You while I'm waiting, I will worship while I'm waiting."  We must continue in our service and our worship, and not let the anxious flesh take over and assume that we have been ignored... blessed one, you are never ignored by the Father, and He keeps your prayers in His presence as a precious possession.  However, the answer comes in His time, not ours, and that is something that we have to simply accept.  We have to accept it.

Look today at your service and worship as you wait for answers to prayers or leading for whatever it is you are waiting on.  Ask yourself if you are standing still and awaiting an answer, or praying and serving and worshipping right through the silence, so that God will see you faithful and steadfast... immovable... always ready to do His will and the works He has laid before you.  I promise, as you go about this today, you will bring honor and glory to the Lord!

God bless you all!!!

Seek strength...

"Look to the LORD and His strength; seek His face always."

Psalm 105:4

You know what's so hard about sitting completely silently and waiting on the Lord to answer a question?  Everything!  "It's too quiet, there's stuff to do and my foot itches.  Plus, it's such a simple question, and I really need the answer quickly... surely He knows I have a show coming on soon that I cannot miss."  If that doesn't sound familiar to you at all, then I want to talk to you today so I can learn how you got past it all.

Put simply, we just don't have the strength to sit still and wait on Him and His timing.  We are motion-driven creatures, always looking for something to keep us occupied.  But what if we should be just sitting still for a few minutes each day, growing in our capacity to understand the moving of the Spirit and hearing the voice of the Lord in our hearts?  What if we are really supposed to sit there and resist the temptation to move and talk and think and play and daydream, and it all shows as a witness to ourselves that we are growing in our strength in the Lord?

In our new quest to see how the Spirit moves and wait on the Lord for leading and answers, take time today to focus on the strength you need to build and use to endure the time you spend quietly waiting on Him.  Praying is great, and we should always do that, and I'm certain you do... but if it is all you talking and never you listening, how can you ever hope to get an answer?  Build strength today, focus in silence on the Lord and His will and leading, and honor Him in doing so!

God bless you all!!!

Seek ye first...

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Matthew 6:33

As we begin our new adventure, I am going to have to ask all of you to be a little more patient with me.  And I ask this, because I will be actively and daily seeking the will of God for this study.  This one may move more slowly, and may not have the usual one post per day flow... but I know that He will be present in it, and that He will bless us through it.

I have chosen this first verse as a reminder of the study itself.  It will be the banner verse for the overall pattern of topic, and it will be revisited many times, I'm sure.  But for today, for right now, I have very simple thoughts on it.

As it speaks to worry, I must tell you that if you are always in the mode of seeking His will in all things you do, there will never be anything to worry about.  I know this, because God would not attempt to humanly justify ridiculous actions as being "okay just this once."  He is holy and pure and righteous, and He would do the rightest right thing in any given scenario.  Therefore, if we do the same, and seek that path, why would we worry about the outcome?

From childhood, I can recall hearing the hymn that is written from this verse.  My mom used to sing it as we would drive, and I recall it being a calming and soothing sound.  Perhaps I'll sing it for my kids tonight.  The concept of "seek ye first" has been constant in my life, but I am actually going to apply it now, and I am bringing you along for the ride.

And as this topic has approached, I had the "random" thought to ask a friend to translate it into Latin: Quaerite primum regnum Dei.  A plaque of those words is in my office right now, less than 10 feet from me as I type.  A similar one is in my home, right where I can see it from the kitchen each day.  And a few young friends have taken my advice to put it into their rooms, to remind them always to be in search of God's best direction in any circumstance.  Is this reminder necessary for you?

Take time with me today to pray for God to reveal just a bit more of His will for you.  Take a moment to quiet your mind and sit in absolute silence, waiting on Him to answer you.  I will be doing so shortly, and I cannot wait to find out what new truths it may bring.  And then share this experience with the one person in your mind that could benefit the most from hearing about it, and honor the Lord in doing so!

God bless you all!!!

Moving on... kinda...

So I have been praying and seeking and waiting for an answer... I now have it.  I have received five similar (exact, to be more precise) suggestions from people who have nothing in common but me, and never interact with each other at all.  All of them have mentioned that I should cover the need to be fervent in seeking the Lord's will, and focus on having the strength of faith to wait for the leading of the Spirit.  So that's where I'm going.

And as I embark on this journey, I ask that you join me and pray with me.  I have a feeling that this will be a powerful study for us all, and we will learn together how to better seek His will first, in all things.

God bless you all!!!

Discovery... or leading...

"As He spoke to me, the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet, and I listened to the One who was speaking to me."

Ezekiel 2:2

I have received many thoughts on what to study next on the blog, and I have been in prayer over the choice of topic.  But just this morning, as I prayed, I had a similar experience to this one from Ezekiel.  I had a moment where it felt as though I was being told specifically to move forward with a specific direction... so I shall!

But before we get to the announcement of that, I must tell you all that I have studied Ezekiel deeply, and there is a common recurring theme with him being lifted to his feet again and again by the Spirit.  But do you know what they never mention about that moment?  They never mention where he starts... at least, not in specific description.  We know he is not asleep, because each time he is wide awake when a vision takes him.  And he cannot be lifted to his feet if he is already standing.  Plus, this never seems to happen in the middle of dinner, so I doubt he is sitting.

To be lifted to your feet in this manner, you have to start somewhere amazing... knelt down in prayer, perhaps even prostrate with your face on the ground.  Ezekiel, when met by God in whatever form or vision, fell IMMEDIATELY to his knees to worship in reverence, and the Spirit brought him back up.  The Spirit lifted Ezekiel up to hear and listen.

Take a moment today, whenever you have time, to pray fervently.  There is something in your life, just as there is in everyone's life, that needs this focused attention on prayer.  Take hold of it, and go for the gusto in a powerful moment.  Follow the pattern of prayer that acknowledges Who you are speaking to, confesses what needs to be confessed, gives thanks for all that has come to pass and THEN makes supplication requests.  It doesn't have to take hours and hours, but it can be a few minutes of focus completely on God, and not on any other thing.  I promise, your experience will be wonderful, and you will honor the Lord in doing so!

God bless you all!!!

Friday's Proverb...

"Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but one who hates correction is stupid."

Proverbs 12:1

QBQ - Do I embrace correction, knowing it will put me onto a better path?  Or am I stupid?

Friends, there are times in life when we must offer correction, and we all (secretly) look forward to those moments a little.  But there are also times when we must receive correction, and we should look (seriously) forward to those moments!  For it is in those moments that we grow closer to God by reforming ourselves to a better understanding through the blessing of another.  Focus today on how you handle correction, show the peace that God has blessed you with and honor the Lord in doing so!

May He bless you!!!