Storm Warning One-a-Day Thursday 9/19/19

Posted on by September 19, 2019
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A life worthy

Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. All the sailors were afraid… (Jonah 1:4-5).

The Law of Unintended Consequences.

I’m sure that Jonah wasn’t trying to put a bunch of pagan sailors in jeopardy.

I’m sure he wasn’t thinking about them at all.

He was just…running.

But when you run from God, when you deliberately put yourself outside of His will, stuff’s gonna happen.  You put yourself and others in situations that God never intended for you. Sin is like a nuclear blast, with fallout that you can neither predict nor control.

Bottom line—your sin is not just your own.  People can get hurt because of your disobedience.

Time for a heart check, Beloved.  Are there areas in your life you need to fix, sins you need to confess, attitudes you need to repent of?

Because you know, people are getting wet.

Happy Thursday, Beloved.

Runner One-a-Day Wednesday 9/18/19

Posted on by September 18, 2019
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A life worthy

The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”

But Jonah ran away from the Lord…  (Jonah 1:1-3)

I talk a good game.

I say that I wish God would just be clear, tell me exactly what he wants of me.

And yet…

You know what I’m talking about.  You’re praying, asking for God’s guidance, and you get an answer.  A full-blown, here’s-what-I-want-you-to-do-Kid sort of answer. You know it in your heart.

But…

It’s not the answer you wanted.

In fact, it’s totally wrong.

So you run.

Oh, you may not hop a ship to Tarshish, but you run.

Why is it that when we say “Thy will…” we usually mean, “My will…?”

Because…you know…human.

Beloved, as we head into Wednesday, let’s try a little experiment.. Let’s pray that God would use us—no strings attached.  However, wherever and with whomever he chooses. Let’s lay ourselves at his feet and await his command. And then let’s follow.

Yeah, I know it’s a scary concept, but we trust him.

Right?

Happy Wednesday, Beloved.

Not Destroyed One-a-Day Tuesday 9/17/19

Posted on by September 17, 2019
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A life worthy

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).

Have you ever been knocked down?

Sure you have.

Literally and/or metaphorically you’ve been beaten, torn up, kicked around, thrown down and ground into the dirt until there’s grit in your eyes and blood in your mouth.

But you survived.

After all, here you are, enjoying this delightfully uplifting message.

As much as I love reading about the armor of God, I think the message of the cross is most powerful, most potent, when your armor has cracked, your shield has caved in, and your sword has been knocked from your hand.

That’s when resurrection comes in.

They say that God will never give you more than you can handle.  Perhaps it is better to say that he will never give you more than He can handle.

He is the one who lifts you up from the dust.

From the mire.

From the muck.

From the grave.

Metaphorically…and literally.

That is the treasure you carry in your little jar of clay.

Carry it with joy, Beloved.

Happy Tuesday.

Never Alone One-a-Day Monday 9/16/19

Posted on by September 16, 2019
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A life worthy

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned… (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).

You may feel as if they’re all out to get you.

Maybe they are.

You may think that God’s left you to face it alone.

Never gonna happen, my friend.

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Happy Monday, Beloved.

Perplexed One-a-Day Friday 9/13/19

Posted on by September 13, 2019
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A life worthy

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair… (2 Corinthians 4:7-8).

Some days…it just doesn’t make sense.

Any of it.

This world, with its evil and darkness and pain.  I mean, how is it that they can’t see the wickedness all around them for what it is? How can they so willingly embrace lies?

And am I any better?  Failing over and over to do what I know I should do, to be who I know I should be?

Even God, for that matter.  Seriously, what is his game plan for this world?   For my life?

I suppose he knows—I’ve bet my forever on it.  Still…

It all seems so hopeless sometimes…except that Hope Himself lives within me.

And within you.

He is the treasure in this clay jar.  I will not despair.

Hold on to Hope today, Beloved.

Treasure the treasure.

Happy Friday.

Crushed…Not One-a-Day Thursday 9/12/19

Posted on by September 12, 2019
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A life worthy

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed… (2 Corinthians 4:7-8).

There’s a science experiment I remember doing as a kid.  You take a metal container of some kind—it has to be metal, and it has to have a lid.  Fill the container about halfway with water and set it on the stove. Heat it until the water inside is boiling, then turn off the heat and screw the lid onto the container.

Then you wait…

As the container cools, it begins to implode.  It’s like some giant, unseen hand is squeezing the can. The whole thing crumples right before your eyes.  Way cool.

Why does the can crumple?  Pretty simple, really. By boiling the water, you increase the air pressure inside the can and drive much of the air out.  As the can cools, the air pressure drops, and the can tries to suck more air in—except it can’t, because you put the cap on.  You end up with a can that has very little air inside. The outside air pressure—the weight of the world, so to speak—literally crushes it.

Tell me you’re making the connection.

You, Beloved, are not empty inside.  You are filled with the treasure of His truth.  This world and all its pressures—crushing as they are—will not destroy you.

So there.

Happy Thursday, Beloved.

Eighteen Years One-a-Day Wednesday 9/11/19

Posted on by September 11, 2019
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A life worthy

Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of evil and cruel men (Psalm 71:4).

Eighteen years.

Eighteen years since “Nine-One-One” became “Nine-Eleven.”

Eighteen years since we awakened to fire and smoke and terror and grief.

Eighteen years since the hand of the wicked reached out to strike at our nation.

It was a horrific reminder that there is evil in this world.  Evil will always attack the innocent. Evil will always set itself against the people of God.

And yet, you didn’t really need the reminder, did you?  You’ve known the attack of evil—maybe not on so grand a scale, but you’ve known it.

And you will again.

It comes with the territory.  It’s part of the package of being His, of living for Christ in this world.

And so is deliverance.

As surely as the sun rose this morning.

As surely as the Son rose long ago.

God will not let evil win.  Not in this world. Not in your life.

So as you remember 911 today, as you see the proud flags and hear the lofty speeches and see the heartfelt posts, remember your own personal 911’s, and how God has brought you through them.

And trust that he will again.

Walk in remembrance today, Beloved.

Clay One-a-Day Tuesday 9/10/19

Posted on by September 10, 2019
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A life worthy

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us (2 Corinthians 4:7).

The Gospel.

The greatest of gifts.  The very truth of God’s love and sacrifice on our behalf.  A message with the power to change lives and worlds, and God puts it where?

In us.

Seriously?  Weak, fumbling, neurotic us?

Yep.

Why?

Well, he tells us, doesn’t he, Beloved?  He did it to show the world—and remind us—that it is his power at work and not ours.    

Look, I don’t know what big plans you have for this day, but we both know…

Not without Him.

Furthermore, I don’t know what troubles are coming your way today.  For some of us, it’s bound to be pretty rough. So, God wants you to know, here and now, that He is the one working in you…through you…

For you.

Whether today’s a hunkering down kinda day or a venturing forth kinda day, you are not doing it on your own.  Which, we can both admit, is a good thing.

Happy Tuesday, Beloved.

Sick One-a-Day Monday 9/9/19

Posted on by September 9, 2019
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A life worthy

Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.

Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.

In vain you rise early and stay up late, for he grants sleep to those he loves.  (Ps 127:1-2)

There’s no use denying it—I’ve got the crud.  For the last few days, I have hardly stirred from my big green chair.  I have slept, eaten, napped, watched TV, snoozed, scrolled aimlessly through Facebook, slumbered, and slept.

I’ve been sick.

There are no spectacular symptoms I can point you to.  No raging fever, no projectile vomiting, no delirium—at least, none that I’ve noticed. I’m not bleeding, either internally or externally.  Neither pox nor pustules are in ready evidence. It’s just a cold.

Frankly, I almost wish I had some better symptoms.It would kind of justify the time I’ve been out of commission.  When you tell someone that you’re sick, they invariably respond with some variation of, “Oh, I’m so sorry. What’s wrong?  Is it your stomach? Is it your head?” It’s great to have a solid response, like “Yeah, it’s my head. I’ve been bleeding from the eyes for several days now…fever’s at about 107,” or, “It’s weird…I’m covered head to toe in some kind of itchy purple fungus.  The doctor gave me some ointment, and that seems to be helping…”

Instead, I’m stuck with, “It’s just a really bad cold.”  See, even to you I had to add the “really.” And I qualified the statement with a “just,” as though to admit that I know I sound like a punk. And you may say, “Oh, that’s rough.  I know what that’s like,” but inside you’re thinking

“Wimp!”

“Lazy bum!”

“Weenie boy!”

“Haul your bacon out of bed and get something done!”

Well, maybe you’re not thinking that, but I am.  Because I’ll tell you, Charles Ingalls wouldn’t have called in sick today.  Virus? Ppfeh! That man worked a full-time job at the mill and ran a farm. Weekends?  That’s when he worked in his barn, hand-crafting furniture to put in the house he built by himself.

My plan for today is…maybe…to change from pajamas to sweats.

It’s humbling to be sick.  Frankly, I think that’s one reason God allows it. The occasional virus serves as a reminder that, not only is life not all about me, it’s not up to me.

Unless the Lord builds the house

its builders labor in vain.

Unless the Lord watches over the city

the watchmen stand guard in vain.

In vain you rise early and stay up late,

for he grants sleep to those he loves.  (Ps 127:1-2)

I don’t know about you, but I can get way too caught up in my own importance.  It’s not that I don’t matter. As a husband, and a father, and a teacher, God has given me very important duties.  My problem (and I suspect yours, though I’m too polite and subtle to mention it) is that I start to think that I alone can and must accomplish all that has been set before me.  Though I don’t forget God, I do sometimes relegate him to the position of cheerleader. Of course, it’s when I think I have to accomplish everything that I feel most powerless. When I let myself rest, or when plague forces it on me, I am reminded that there is a God who is knowledgeable, capable, and on my side.

Hmmm.

I’m going back to sleep.

Happy Monday, Beloved

Soar One-a-Day Friday 9/6/19

Posted on by September 6, 2019
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A life worthy

…those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint (Isaiah 40:31). 

I have, on occasion, taken verses a bit too literally.

Once upon a time, I ran a marathon.  Actually, that’s not quite accurate; I ran part of a marathon and hobbled the rest.  This verse kept running through my mind.

My hope was in the Lord.

And yet…

My strength was depleted.

Though I was sore, I did not soar.

I ran, and grew quite weary.

I walked, and was faint.

I crawled, and was blistered.

So maybe God wasn’t talking about marathon running.  Maybe he was talking about our spiritual life.

And yet…

Sometimes I feel like my spiritual life is like that marathon.  The pressures crowd in on me from every side, and I can’t find peace. My hope is in him, but I just feel weak and low and tired and afraid.  It doesn’t look like my hopes will ever be made real.

I’m sure you never feel this way—thanks for putting up with my dysfunction.

As I write this, my mind goes to two places—painful and awkward, but that’s how my brain works.  First, I think of yesterday’s verse: Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him.  My hope cannot be based in my circumstances; it must be based in God’s character.  Second, I have to realize that this race is not over yet. I may feel like I’m about to drop, but I haven’t.

Does that resonate with you, even a little?  Because I hate to feel alone.

You feel like you’re about to fall, but you don’t fall.

By his grace, you keep putting one foot in front of the other.

And that is our hope.

As I think about it, I remember the end of that marathon.  After doing the death crawl for several eternities, I reached the 25 mile marker.

1.2 miles to go.

I prayed that God would give me the strength to finish at a run…and he did.

I ran the end of the race.

One might even say that I soared…but one would be wildly mistaken.

Still, I finished strong in that race.

And I will finish strong in this race.

And so will you, Beloved—that’s a promise.

Happy Friday