Names of God

If you have been in a Christian Bookstore, you, no doubt, at some time have seen some variation of a poster that has the various names of God.  Here is one of them.  I love this poster!  I can stare at this poster and just onder who God is. 

Our church is walking through the Experiencing God Bible study.  One thing we recently learned is that when God reveals His nature, reflected in His names, His purpose is not to create some pithy saying or plaque to hang on the wall.  Instead, what we know about God should build our faith in Him.  Faith does not come out of nothing.  Faith is birthed out of what we know about who God is-- both in His word, as well as, our experiences with Him.

Therefore, if I say that I believe that God is Almighty, and yet I have trouble trusting Him with my problems, do I really believe who He is?  If I say that is He is my Wonderful Counselor, but get depressed when the world comes crashing down on me, do I really believe who He is?  If I say He is Lord of Lords, and yet fight to maintain control of my own life, is He really my Lord?  As I look at the names of God, I am challenged to evaluate what I really believe.

And yet, He is merciful, and He is gracious.  He continues to reveal Himself to me and allow me the grace to grow in my love for Him.  In just a few days we celebrate one more demonstration of who He is... He is our Savior and our Redeemer.  Now, who do you believe He is?

Clock Watchers

"A watched pot never boils." At least that's what the cliche says. We are not a patient people. We are constantly moving faster and faster. Often when I talk with friends and they ask how things are going for me, my new response is it's going in "Fast-Forward." We use flash drives, microwave dinners have mostly replaced home-cooked meals, and the pace seems to quicken the longer I live. And yet, God doesn't move at our pace. He is above our time... he created it!

I began reading the book of Exodus this past week. This book begins its account of the Hebrew people some 400 years after Joseph and his brothers settled in the Egyptian land of Goshen, and even longer since God's initial promise to Abraham regarding the promised land. From this point, they are still a generation away from it. God's people are in bondage and have been for a long time. God has a plan for His people. He made a promise to His people, at yet, it takes hundreds of years to come to fruition. I have to imagine that had they had clocks back then, would they be watching them saying, "Um, hello God? We are a little uncomfortable here. You mentioned something about a promised land?"

God kept his promise, but it wasn't on their schedule, rather it was on His. The Hebrews struggled a lot with this attitude while they wandered in the desert and longed for the onions and leeks they used to have in Egyptian slavery. In the process of wandering, God refines and purifies his people. History tells us that right in his own timing, God answers His people's cry and fulfills His promises. Always has, always will.

In my own ways, I often begin whining and complaining longing for "onions and leeks" of yesteryear, and yet God is refining and purifying me. I must learn to wait patiently for the Lord. When I read the Bible, so often, for me the action that God takes is but a page turn. But to those in the situation, often times it is years in the making, sometimes, generations.

Lord, Your timing is always perfect. Teach me to trust you, and wait on You. I know that Your "apparent delay" always has a bigger picture in mind and is but a page turn away.

"The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." (2 Pet. 3:9)

Faith Under Construction

There is one area of my life that has been under construction for a couple of years now. That is in the area of faith. Specifically, I am learning to answer the question, do I REALLY trust God. That is in essence what faith really is, trusting God to do what He says He will do. If you looked into the "hall of faith" in Hebrews 11, you will find a litany of individuals that believed what God told them and acted on it. This wasn't what we would call "blind faith" where someone randomly believes something and then go move into the mountains and drink tainted punch. They first got a word from God, and then even though it may have gone against "their better judgement;" they acted on it.

One of these men I read about this morning is Noah. Beginning in chapter 6 of Genesis is the account of this man. We really know very little about him beyond that he stood out to God in the midst of unprecedented evil on the earth, "But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD." (vs. 8) and in the next verse, Noah is described as a righteous man who walked with God. Noah didn't have a Bible like we do today, but God spoke to him directly... I believe audibly. Verses 11-21 detail specific instructions God gave Noah about building a huge boat that would keep he and his family alive in a pending flood. Noah's response? Verse 22 says that he did "all that God had commanded him."

Even though Noah was not perfect (cf. Gen. 9:20-21), this was an established pattern for him. God told him, he believed God, and he acted. Even when it didn't make sense. Remember, up until this point they had never even seen rain! (cf. Gen. 2:5). And yet, he is outside building a boat. What did the neighbors think?

In Hebrews 11, God's word says in the midst of the list of "faith-full" people, that without faith it is impossible to please God (vs 6). Today, we have been blessed with a completed Canon of scripture chalk full of promises and descriptions of God's character. We have the task of walking with God, and believing what He has revealed, and acting on it. Even when it doesn't make sense to us. Even when it runs counter cultural. If we desire to please God, we must trust Him.

If God's word tells me He will provide for me if I seek first His kingdom, then I shouldn't worry about my needs. If I trust God, do the last thing he told me, be faithful with what He gives me and He will take care of the rest. When I feel alone, I remember that God told me that He would never leave me nor forsake me. If I want to please God, I must first trust Him. Until He is finished with me, I will press on, knowing that although my faith is still under construction, "...He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."

Walking with the Good Shepherd, pt 6

"Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." (vs. 6)

Every time I read these words it conjures a memory of my grandmother singing one of her favorite hymns. In my childlike understanding, I always thought she was just paranoid of being followed by two people named Shirley Goodness and Lovey (I was a Gilligan's Island fan) Kindness. But as I have matured, I have come to a growing understanding of the richness of David's words here.

This verse is the culmination of verses 1-5. It describes the result of walking with the Good Shepherd. A Shepherd that is Soveriegn God, that is our Provider, our Comforter, our Protector, our Instructor who disciplines us, our Servant and Healer... when we walk with the Good Shepherd, we have the evidence of goodness of lovingkindness as fruit in our lives, but the verbiage here describes so much more. This goodness and lovingkindness is personified. The words "will follow me" shows that David is not saying just that we will develop these qualities, but that the One who embodies these traits PURSUES us. Our Good Shepherd, so longs to be with us that He pursues us! Often, I hear of people say they "found the Lord." But if we read this right, the opposite is closer to truth. He was always pursuing us.

A few weeks ago, my girls and I decided to wash mommy's car. I fixed Melody and Selah a bucket for them and a bucket for me. By the end of the washing, they were wanting to dip their rags into my bucket. They wanted to be with me, everywhere I scrubbed they wanted to scrub, every time I dipped into the bucket they wanted to dip. They demonstrated exactly what the Good Shepherd longs for from me, He wants me to go and do whatever and wherever He is. To dwell in His presence forever. That's not just a heaven bound thing, but it is a now and forever thing.

Lord, thank you for pursuing me all the days of my life.

Walking with the Good Shepherd, pt 2

So, if we shall not be in want or shall not lack anything, what kinds of things is David writing about? I think He captures in verse two the heart of what God desires for us. "He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters." The first part of this verse talks of God causing us to rest, not just in pastures, but green pastures, some Bible versions use the word "lush." God desires not just a restless night, but desires that we experience peaceful refreshment. But where does this come from? Is it posh surroundings, deluxe accommodations and a sleep-number bed? I don't think so. God Himself is our supply. It comes from resting in Him. He is the green pasture.

Look back at John 10, verse 9. Jesus describes Himself as the door. What ever comes at us, must first go through Him! That gives me incredible peace of mind, and no pricey mattress can offer that-- regardless of what the adds say. Ever wonder why so many of us have trouble sleeping at night? We, and I do include myself, too often allow ourselves to not rest in the fact that Christ Himself is at the doorway of the sheep fold.

The next part of the verse reinforces this. He leads me beside quiet waters. Life apart from Christ is a rushing river and to step into it without His leading can destroy us. His leading, rather, is beside quiet, calming, peaceful waters. Waters that refresh. Waters that are clear and pure. You see, God has our best in mind. Contrary to cultural norms, we don't achieve this through having no pain and all comfort. We get this by abiding in Him, hearing His voice, and following him. I am just as guilty as anyone. I pursue things that are counterfeits and don't satisfy. David wrote in Psalm 37, that is when our delight is in the LORD, He gives us the desires of our heart. Again, David uses YHWH here for LORD.

Are you resting well? My prescription is to take a nap in a lush pasture beside quiet waters of the peace of God. Then, call upon the LORD in the morning.

Walking with the Good Shepherd, pt 1

In recent weeks, ever since I saw a picture on my friends blog, the Spirit has given me encounters with the world famous 23rd Psalm. So, I decided to camp there for a couple weeks. There were no earth shattering truths that I learned, but rather gentle reminders of my God and His character and desires for me as His sheep. So, I thought I would record some things about which He reminded me.

Verse 1, "The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want." First off, I read that "the LORD" is my shepherd. ok, yeah that seems kind of a duh statement, but think about it. In our English translation, whenever you see LORD in all caps, that is literally the Hebrew, YHWH, or in Latin Jehovah. Big deal, so what? It is a big deal. That is God's covenant name; it is how God describes himself in Exodus when he identifies Himself to Moses at the burning bush- "I AM." Now, for you theologians, this may be old news for you, but I have tremendous comfort knowing that my shepherd is constant, never-changing, never affected by world markets or political changes. That is a ground I can built my house on! This is the God who ALWAYS keeps His promises. That is who is my Shepherd.

Second, another entry from Captain Obvious, but He is "MY" shepherd. God, the great I AM, is a personal God. Sorry to disappoint all you deists out there, but God wants to be our personal Shepherd!

Third, He is my SHEPHERD. Now, this may be weird language to us here in the 21st century, but written by a guy who hung out a lot with sheep, this is a very intentional word choice here as it best communicates who we are. Isaiah, describes our role in this, "All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way;..." (53:6) Our tendency is to go astray, and to go our own way. This tendency has done nothing for me but cause destruction in my life and hurt those around me. And yet, the Good Shepherd, who has my best in mind, is the one Who guides me.

"I shall not want..." It is out of the supply from the Good Shepherd, according to His riches in glory, we shall always have what we need. Don't misread this, it isn't saying we always get what we want, but rather, we will lack nothing. The next verse, describes what that is...

Today, meditate on this as I have the past couple weeks, it will refresh you! More later, maybe tomorrow if my schedule allows. Have a great day with the Good Shepherd.

Promises, Promises

Back in my youth, during the mid-eighties, there was a popular song by a group called Naked Eyes called "Promises Promises." The song simply talks about how two people, while growing up, made promises to each other that were not kept over the years. I have been working through the book of Ezekiel recently, and it is a rich book with much to say about God and his character--especially His justice and grace. God and only God can perfectly balance these two traits. Much of what the prophet records is God basically saying, "I warned you of what I would do if you didn't obey me, now I am going to do it." He would, in the near future, be withdrawing His presence from the Temple and causing judgement to be inflicted through the pagan nation of Babylon just like He said He would.

In the midst of all the judgement, in chapter 11, God offers this hopeful promise, "I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again.'" After 70 years of exile (which God promised), God begins the process of bringing His people back to Israel.

We all make promises, most we intend to keep and do, many we intend to and cannot due to circumstances beyond our control, and if we are honest, on occasion some we really never intend to keep in an attempt to placate someone. I am so thankful that I trust in a God that keeps His promises. Because, not only does He want to, but also because He is able to. Only God has the complete authority to follow through with what He says every time.

In a time that many are crying out in despair, I am reassured by His word and His promises. His word is full of promises to us and He is a God who is able to keep His promises. "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us..." (Eph. 3:20).

Jesus Wore a Size 10

I was reminded this morning that the Savior and I share the same shoe size. Hebrews 4:15 says, "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin." You see that, he's been in my shoes! Okay, well maybe in a figurative sense.

This morning I walked through another familiar passage in Matthew 4-- the temptation of Christ. The Scriptures record that there were at least three specific temptations that the Devil tested the Savior with:

1. Need for Provision (vs. 2-3)

2. Need for Security (vs. 5-6)

3. Greed for Power at all costs (vs. 8-9)

When we consider the things we ALL struggle with, don't we all want to know our needs are going be taken care of? Right now is especially a trying time for many folks in this area. Also, we all want to know that we are safe from harm and discomfort. And finally, we all want to be masters of our own destinies. These are the same things that Christ faced in this case.

And yet, Christ, using the Word of God correctly (important here because the Enemy also used the Word) in defense against these wiles of the Devil. First, in verse 4, He declares that God and God alone will sustain and provide for us with His Word. Secondly, in verse 7, He reminds the Accuser that God is always there, and we should trust Him and not test Him. Finally, Christ tells the enemy in verse 10, that God and God alone sits on the throne, and He is sovereign.

The world is constantly at odds with God, and these same temptations continue today, each day in our lives. But, we can rest and have victory in these tests, because Christ has been in our shoes and knows what we go through. He has shown us the way. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Tunnel Vision

Melody is learning to ride her bike. Recently, she participated in a bike-a-thon fund raiser. Periodically, she would avoid a near collusion because she would busy herself looking back at me instead of watching where she was going.

I don't know about you, but I don't do so well trying to go in one direction while I am looking elsewhere. It seems when we take our eyes off of where they should be, we get into trouble. There are a number of passages in scripture that speak to this issue. Here are a few: 2 Corinthians 4:18, Hebrews 12:2, Matthew 14:29-31.

When we lose sight of where we are going, we can stumble, sink or be destroyed. I read this passage this morning, "Let your eyes look directly ahead and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. Watch the path of your feet and all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil. " (Proverbs 4:25-27)

Thank you Lord for Your Word helping me to stay focused.

Grab the Rope and Swing!

Our girls love playing outside, and God has blessed us with a big back yard that accommodates much play. Out back, we have two swings tied a large pecan tree: a one-rope swing and a two-rope swing. Both have plastic seats, but I was noticing that the single-rope swing doesn't get as much use by the girls. It has less to hold onto, but swings higher.

My oldest, daughter, really struggles with fear. She has an amazing imagination, but that imagination causes her trouble sometimes, like being afraid of the dark, and it also prevents her from doing some fun stuff... like swinging on the one-rope swing.

I too have been struggling with fear: fear of the unknown, fear of failure, and fear of rejection. However, God has been teaching me lately that the child of God does not need to be afraid. Apparently this is a very common problem we all have and the Bible deals directly with this. The New American Standard version of the Bible mentions the words "fear" and "afraid" over 500 times, and many of those references include commands to individuals and groups to not be afraid. Why is that? Well, I believe that our fear comes from a lack of trusting God to the point of not obeying Him. In my reading through the Apostle John's letters, I read one verse that really speaks to this issue in my life. "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love." (1 John 4:18) Later, John describes this love that expresses itself in obedience to what God tells us to do. (cf. John 14,15; 1 John).

What God is showing me right now is that to grow in this area I must face my fears-- head on. When I do, it's amazing God takes care of the fear. He literally casts it out! Does that mean that nothing bad happens? No, but it helps us to stretch out a little bit more next time we are faced with fear, because God has shown us His faithfulness. It is not a fear issue, as much as it is a love issue. Do I love God more than I fear my circumstances?

Back to our swing story. Knowing the fun she was missing, I recently came along side Melody, and began encouraging her (aka forcing her :-D) to get on the single rope swing. She was afraid at first, even to the point of tears, but after a few times, she learned that her daddy loves her and was there with her. She is beginning to enjoy the new heights to which she can go. She is still hesitant, but her fear is being cast out by the result of her obedience. There is always a possibility she might fall, but she is learning that her daddy is near to pick her up when she does fall.

Sometimes facing our fears takes a little nudge from our Heavenly Daddy, but when we fall, it gives great peace knowing that our Father is there to pick us up when we do fall. Let's take a step, grab the rope put our heads back and swing!

Caution, Challenge Ahead...

I read the following lines this past week, and it has really challenged me at the core of who I am, what I really believe, and what I am doing about it. I just started a new book that falls right in line with what God has been teaching me called, In a Pit, With a Lion, on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson. I haven't read it in this book rather, I read it in an article, but I believe it comes from this book. It is called the Lion Chaser's Manifesto:

"Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don’t let what’s wrong with you keep you from worshiping what’s right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze new trails. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don’t try to be who you’re not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away. Chase the lion."

We only believe what we live.

GPS (God's Protection System)

My oldest sister, Sheryl, is coming for a visit! I have been looking forward to her coming. She is working very hard these days as she has a high-responsibility job at a university; plus, she is working on her PhD. So, she has taken some much needed time off and is coming for a visit today.

Before coming here, she ran out to Georgia to see her daughter who lives in a rural community (a.k.a. the sticks) north of Atlanta. I asked her about her trip out there. Sheryl had told me earlier that she had purchased one of those GPS systems for her car that tells you, not only how to get from point "A" to point "B," but also tells when there are traffic issues ahead and how to route around them. She explained that she hadn't quite figured it all out and on her trip she ran into a lot of construction, traffic jams, etc. that prevented her arriving being earlier. I told her it would be wise to get it set so it would help her avoid that stuff when she headed this way.

When I spoke with her this morning, I asked whether she got it working for her. She said it was. Then I asked what she had to do adjust, and she told me, "my attitude." She went on to explain that it had been working right, she just didn't trust it. She placed her faith in it this morning; and lo and behold, it worked and she was able to avoid some traffic jams. Hmmm. I told her that sounded like a good spiritual lesson. She agreed.

She had called while I was spending time in the Word, when we were done talking, I got back to it. In typical fashion, God's Word was very appropriate this morning... what a "coincident!" I am working through the Gospel of John and was in chapter 12 this morning. Following the triumphant entry into Jerusalem on the donkey, verses 35-36 had this to say, "So Jesus said to them, 'For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.'" This is a lesson that God has been teaching me lately. So often, I am heading in a direction in life and want to stay on the straight and narrow, but sometimes life's path gets rocky, and I gets scared, but God's Word tells me to trust and obey. But oftentimes, I don't trust Him, and try to go my own way. Consequently, things end up a big mess. Had I listened to God's GPS, I would have been protected from a lot of pain.

God's Word is always true and will always guide us in the paths around destruction. It is not because God doesn't want us to have fun, but rather He knows what is best, as He has a much broader perspective. I was reminded of a famialiar Proverb that also speaks this very issue, "There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." (14:12) At times we don't understand God's directions, but we need to follow our GPS, He loves us and He always knows the best way!

Lame Duck Faith

In the light of a political climate like ours, there is a phrase that becomes increasingly popular and relevant. I haven't done any research on the term "lame duck" and where it comes from or how long it has been around, but it most often used in describing a politician who is on their last term and because of term limits they can not run again for the same office. It refers to the tendency of this individual who, in seeing the final days nearing, begins to give up the passion that once put them in office. I think many of us do this even on smaller scales when we see the end coming in a job or school change. It is easy to do really. The thought is, "What's the point? We are leaving soon anyway. No one is listening."

I began reading Paul's letters to the church in Thessalonica recently, and I noted one theme in chapter one of the first letter that followers of Christ of today would do well to implement. "We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." (vs. 3) As I unpacked this verse, the rest of the chapter developed what I was seeing. Any time I see a list in scripture, it makes me stop. Paul commends the church on three things: their work produced by faith, their labor prompted by love, and their endurance inspired by hope.

The work produced by their faith refers to the repentance that resulted. They were not just saying that they believed in Jesus, but they were turning form the idol worship they were so heavily entrenched in their old lives. True faith, as James discusses in his letter, produces good works and repentance.

Then Paul talks about their labor of love. At first, I thought he was just repeating himself, but I don't think so, because he uses two different Greek words here and this one refers more to a work done with intensity and sorrow. This church, as we see described later in the letters, is experiencing persecution. They were buckling down when it was getting hard, and possibly getting toward their end, and their love for Christ was the motivating force. Paul himself describes this in his 2nd letter to the Corinthians when he said that Christ's love compelled them.

Finally, he mentions steadfastness or endurance that results from having a source of true hope. This is no milk-toast hope. It is rooted in a deep-hearted trust in a returning Savior King based on the powerful work that has already been done in their midst. They were facing persecution, and folks they knew were being killed for their faith in Christ, and yet Paul commended them for not giving up and finishing the race.

In these final days, we are living in what my friend refers in his blog as shadow days. We cannot become lame ducks in our faith. We must buckle down, turn our heads toward the wind and keep marching. As long as we remain, God is not done with us. Unfortunately, many in the church today have given up. Their mindset is the same as a lame duck politician. "What's the point? We are leaving soon anyway. No one is listening." We must press on. We must encourage one another. We must not grow weary. For He is faithful, and we will be united with Him soon.

Does our faith produce real life change? Does our love for Christ compels us to do good deeds? Does our hope in Christ keep us moving forward? Or have we become lame duck in our faith? I hope you are challenged as much as I have been.

In Our Shoes

Selah is in copy cat mode. Everything we do; she mirrors... and I mean everything. Big sister is finding out the hard way that that doesn't always have the most pleasant outcomes. There have been a few times that Selah will say or do something that she has heard or seen big sissy do or say that wasn't a wise choice, and guess who gets in trouble for it! Well, one of Selah's more benign parrotings is she loves putting our shoes on. Here, she has Daddy's sandals on and trying to lift the "12 pounders" with each belabored step. As she was posing, I was immediately reminded of a verse that tells us that Christ, God himself, knows all about our troubles we face because He's been in our shoes.

In theological circles, this is called the hypo-static union. The fact that Christ was both fully God and fully man. Listen to how the writer of Hebrews describes this concept, "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (4:14-16)

The context of this passage is finding God's true Sabbath rest. We can find tremendous rest for our weary souls if only we trust in the One who can sympathize with our weaknesses.

Needing Eye Surgery

It has been a number of years now since I was first diagnosed with myopia. Myopia is defined in Wikipedia, as "a refractive defect of the eye in which collimated light produces image focus in front of the retina when accommodation is relaxed." Now before you begin prayer vigils for me and my "critical condition," let me assure you that I am going to make it. As a matter of fact, it is most likely that my condition will not result in my demise. For those of you, like myself, that are not as well versed in medical terminology (I had to look this stuff up)... I am nearsighted. In the most simplest of explanations, I can only see clearly when things are close. Much farther than a couple feet, I require corrective lenses, and until God gives me my glorified body or we can save the small fortune Lasik would require, I am doomed to wear eyeglasses.

I am, unfortunately, stricken with a spiritual myopic condition as well. I think most folks are, really. We can only see the here and now, and truth be known, we don't do so good with seeing up close and should have spiritual bifocals because what we see right now is pretty blurry too. I tend to see things most often from a very worldly perspective. I focus merely on what I think I see, but God's desire is that I begin to develop what I will call "forever eyes." I believe that when we receive Christ by faith, God gives us a new set of eyes. And, like getting new glasses, we must use them frequently in order to adjust to seeing with our new sight. If we used our forever eyes regularly, it would give us a tremendous amount of perspective on the here and now.

There's an old Alfred Brumley gospel song whose chorus sings:

"O Lord you know I have no friend like you

If Heaven's not my home, then Lord what will I do?

The angels beckon me from Heaven's open door

And I can't feel at home in this world anymore."

Too often, we spend our time looking at where we are now and trying to set up shop here on earth, but, like John Ortberg describes, that is as foolish as trying to redecorate a motel room when we are staying there-- this place is not our home. Oftentimes, I get discouraged because I focus on that which is temporary. But God wants me to fix my eyes on Jesus and on my eternal destiny. Listen to what God describes for us through his prophet Isaiah in chapter 65:

"For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth;

And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind." (v.17)

Some versions translate the word "behold" as LOOK, SEE or even PAY ATTENTION. The chapter finishes with a vivid description of where our eternal perspective should be focus.

I especially like that way Eugene Peterson renders this passage in the Message. In this verse, he says, "All the earlier troubles, chaos, and pain are things of the past, to be forgotten." God has SO MUCH better in store for us. If only we could learn to use our "forever eyes" we would know exactly know what Paul was saying when he said, "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known."

Until then, I will be needing daily eye surgery.

Who's Got Your Back?

Recently, as elders and staff, we concluded a weekend retreat by forming a circle facing outward and praying together as a symbol that we have each others back. It was meaningful, and I cherish the time we had together as men leading the church where I serve. We, as the church, should do just that. However, if you have ever be on the receiving end of betrayal as I have, you learn that even the most trusted people can fail you or let you down. This week, I read a little verse that really jumped off the page at me as I had never read it before, but I love what it says:

"Then your light will break out like the dawn,
And your recovery will speedily spring forth;
And your righteousness will go before you;
The glory of the LORD will be your rear guard." (Isaiah 58:8)

The context of that verse is that God, through the prophet, just rebuked the Israelites for going through the motions of religion and that if they wanted to truly find what they seek, they needed to draw near to the LORD. Verse tells them (and us) that if we draw near to God, His glory will be our rear guard. We all need each other, there is no doubt, but when push comes to shove, who's got your back?

Spiritual DIY

I am not the typical man. Most men, like to work with their hands, build stuff and fix things. And yet, I find that, like Tim the Toolman, the more I try to repair stuff around the house, the more expensive the damage gets. All the while I should have picked up the phone and called someone who knows how to fix the trouble. Instead, I trust in my own ability to fix the problem. I have since resigned myself to enjoying the expertise of those talented individuals on the Do-It-Yourself channels on TV.

Once again veering from my study through the Books of the Law, I find myself reading a book I haven't read very often. As a matter of fact, much of my reading has been pieced together over the years. I am reading through the prophecy of Isaiah. While only a few chapters in, there is already much richness in the text. This morning I was reading through chapter 7, and several common threads jumped out to me as I often struggle with these same issues.

Isaiah is addressing King Ahaz, the grandson of the famous King Uzziah of Judah. Ahaz finds himself surrounded by nations that are conspiring against Judah to invade and conquer them. Needless to say the nation was shaking in their boots. Facing this scenario, Ahaz begins to make plans to do something drastic... align himself with one of the then enemies... Assyria. One commentator describes the foolishness of this by likening it to a mouse asking the cat to help against two rats. Being Italian, I think of it like one neighborhood family hiring the mafia to come help with a couple of local street gangs.

So, God sends Isaiah to Ahaz to address the situation, and here are some of the things that God tells Ahaz in verse 4a, "'Take care and be calm, have no fear and do not be fainthearted.'" Later, in verse 9b, He says, "'If you will not believe, you surely shall not last.'"

How many times have I faced multiple hardships, gotten nervous and decided to "fix" things myself. God isn't moving at the pace that I think He should move nor in the manner in which I think it should be done, so I am going to "help" things along by taking matters into my own hands. Now while, I have learned much from the dumb things I have done, I would have been saved much sorrow had I only trusted God and waited on Him and not tried to be a spiritual do-it-yourself-er. I am sure Ahaz and I are the only ones who struggle with spiritual DIY. Sometimes, I should have followed the revised cliche, "Don't just do something, stand there!" Call on the expert who not only has the blueprints, but is the Designer Himself.

A great passage to follow up with is Psalm 37. I tried to choose one verse to post, but it's all good, read it!