When No Is The Way

Most of us don’t’ want to hear a no, especially if it’s something that we really wanted or was for a good cause. Yet, could you imagine if God said yes to everyone’s request? When God has said no to your heartfelt plans what was your response?

We so desperately want our reasoning to be God’s reasoning. When God says no some are tempted to wonder if God loves them. In reality it’s because he loves us He sometimes says no.

When God says no we can experience contentment by understanding and responding in two ways
Realize God has a better way!
On the Apostle Paul’s second missionary journey, the Spirit forbade Paul to speak in the province of Asia and kept them out of Bithynia near the Black Sea and led them directly to Troas, on the coast of the Aegean Sea. While in Troas, Paul received a vision of a man in Macedonia (in northern Greece) asking Paul to come and help them. This change of course became an open door for the gospel to Europe.

A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9

Our lives can a take a turn we didn’t expect or plan on. The lord has said NO for some unknown reason, but he does have a better way.  Fretting over that from which we have been removed or which has been taken away from us, will not make things better, but it will prevent us from improving those which remain.

Respond with acceptance and humility
After tragically losing everything dear to him, Job fell to the ground in worship and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.” Job 1:20 -22

When God has said no to you, you are in good company. Over the millennia God said no to King David, the Apostle Paul and countless others because He had a better way that they were not able to see. God’s answers are never wrong, although they may be surprising.

Sometimes He says no and other times he says yes, but in either case His answer is always the best!  Even though David was kept from building the temple God promised Him that his son Solomon would construct and finish the temple and from his lineage would be a kingdom that would have no end. From the tribe of David inevitably came the promised Messiah.

He has a promise for you too!  “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”  When you know Him one day you’ll hear Him graciously say to you, “Welcome home, I’ve been waiting for you.”  May we look forward to that day!

The Jealousy of God

When we ascribe character and we don’t usually include jealousy as a part of it. Does the thought of a jealous God sound odd? Yet, it’s seen all throughout scripture, in the Torah, the history books, the Psalms, the Prophets and the New Testament. Jealousy is constantly seen as a motivator for God to act and since jealousy is ascribed to God it would be greatly beneficial that we fully understand it.

It’s one of the first things he taught the Hebrews. Exodus 20:4-5.

Human jealousy is far different from God’s
Covetousness can be a vicious jealousy. Resentment from covetousness is seen in the malice and meanness of it.

       Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?  Proverbs 27:4

In the Academy Award movie ‘Amadeus’ Antonio Salieri, a gifted classical musician and a court composer to the eighteenth-century Austrian emperor knew from childhood that he was destined to write music, and he dreamed of becoming great. Although Salieri becomes a well-respected musician, he knows nothing of the fame or the talent God gives Amadeus Mozart.

When in dire financial straits, Mozart's young bride Constanze requests Salieri to help her sell some of her husband's manuscripts. As Salieri reads each manuscript, he plays the notes in his head, astonished by the perfection of each composition. Wildly and insanely jealous he exits the room and sits in his parlor contemplating why God allowed Mozart to drink of the fame that he has thirsted for all his life and plots to take his life…

Apparently people will do many things to get loved, but some will do almost anything to be envied. Like the Queen in Snow White for some success is being envied.

There is a positive aspect of human jealousy – the desire to protect a love relationship
Sometimes love involves passionate jealousy. In order to protect his beloved, God will sometimes take on the things and people that will steal our heart away from Him. When we're rummaging around the garbage piles of life we miss the only true source of satisfaction which is our relationship with God.

Scripture is consistent with the views that God’s jealousy reflects his desire to protect his love for his people and his desire for reciprocated love and loyalty. The compromising relationship with all the different forms of idolatry provokes God’s jealousy.  God’s jealousy is not motivated by a combination of frustration and envy, but it is to preserve something very precious. You!

The ultimate goal of God’s covenant love is that he would redeem a people throughout history who would love and worship Him for his acts of love. To secure that end he is a jealous God. He is jealous for his name and He is jealous of what you do with your life because he deeply cares about you.

He has no real rival, but you and I do. We have plenty of opportunities to do the opposite of what pleases him. Ouch. The jealousy of God is motivated by his love for you and me. Our reasonable response to his love is be passionately devoted to him and his purposes. Are you?

God Knows What You Need

As we saw last week God intimately knows our faults, feelings, frustrations and our future.  He has already seen this day and every interruption and …

He knows all our fears.
He knows if we’re uptight and angry about something. If we think God doesn’t know or care about us, we can take matters into our own hands and take responsibility for things that God never intended us to take on.

Many of our emotional problems can be traced back to NOT really grasping the true nature of God. We misunderstand who he is and what he does. Many times when we are fatigued and weak we forget can that God  knows everything. 

God knows about every single issue you have and knows what you need. You don’t need to get his attention, He already has it.  You have his undivided attention. It’s no problem - that’s why he’s God.

He’s waiting for you and I ask for his help. He’s measured your tears in a bottle. He wants to offer his help. He loves you so much and he knows what’s happened in your life, so look to him for comfort and strength.

He knows all about your faithfulness.
He knows all of your efforts of peacemaking and helping others. He knows when you do the right thing! He sees it! He knows when you stand up for him. He knows every opportunity you had to gossip and you didn’t and every opportunity to be critical and you weren’t!

No matter how seemingly insignificant, every good deed, every encouraging word, every compliment, and every act of kindness God knows about it. He doesn’t miss who you are and what you do.  He will reward you.

Imagine you’re the only one on stage and you’re acting out your whole life.  There is only one person in the audience and that’s God and he’s clapping. That’s all that really counts! You might think nobody saw what you did, but God did and does every day. Even your positive thoughts God knows.  There’s no moment when his eyes are off you.

‘God, I’m trying to live out my faith, it doesn’t matter how I appear in public.’ Character is who you are when no one is looking, but your reputation is what other people say about you.  It matters when nobody’s looking because God is. God says, “I saw that… way to go my child, I’m watching you!”

Your heavenly father is always watching you, He sees you all the time. He sees your faithfulness. He saw what you did. His opinion is what really matters! Since God sees the good things you do and he’s cheering you on then don’t be discouraged! He loves you so much and he knows what’s happened in your life, so look to him for comfort and strength

Maybe you’ve been trying to be a godly person and seems like it’s not paying off or it isn’t making a difference. Rest assured God sees it. It doesn’t matter what everybody else does, but it does matters what you do. 

God Knows You

We live in a world where satellites and drones can see license plates thousands of feet above ground. Where government officials and hackers can find out about you and I. Knowledge is power! Imagine knowing what’s going to happen in the future like shootings, hurricanes, North Korea, the Middle East, terrorist plots before they happen. Imagine knowing tomorrow’s news.

God knows everything possible - all events in the past, present and in the future. He’s never surprised about what we did in private. He’s never shocked. He knows every detail of our entire life history.

I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. Isaiah 46:10.

He knows what has happened, what is happening and what will happen! He knows everything that could’ve happened that didn’t, what can happen, but won’t. It is encouraging to know that…

God knows our faults and failings. Psalm 69:5
He knows absolutely everything about us. We forget this sometimes because it can make us feel uncomfortable. None of us have secrets from God. We always have an audience of ONE - there’s nothing off the record! Everything you think about, God is aware of. Ezekiel 11:5 God knows about everything you see, do and say!  Ps.139:4  

Aren’t you glad your life is not in the National Enquirer at the checkout lane of the grocery store for all to see? He knows our hypocrisy and he still lavishes His love upon us. Amazing!  He doesn’t hold it against us. We can respond by being honest with God. He knows all about it, but he understands and He still loves you!

God knows our feelings and frustrations.
We might think that nobody knows what we’re going through, but God does.  He sees the crisis in our soul. There is no hurt unnoticed by God. Often when we’ve been deeply hurt we can feel isolated and lonely and think, “Nobody understands what I’m going through” but God does!

I will be glad and rejoice in your love for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.
                                                                                                                                               Psalm 31:7
God knows your feelings and frustrations more than anyone else. Ps.103:13-14 In the midst of your weariness God is sympathetic. He NOT only sees, but He cares for you!  He understands why it happened. He knows the reasons that brought you to a certain place in your life. He sees the hurt in your heart that no one else can.  Psalm 142:3. 

Maybe you feel like giving up? He knows your hurt and your heart. He’s measured your tears in a bottle so look to him for comfort and strength and cast your burdens upon Him today and every day.

God knows your future.
Fortune tellers, astrologers, seers or tea leaf readers sell the future, but these are the wrong sources. God sees tomorrow and what you will face and He is not limited to time.  God is like the blimp at the Rose Bowl parade, He sees the beginning and the end of the parade. He is the alpha and the omega. He knows your future and is not surprised.

Since God knows your future you can ask His advice. God will not lay out your whole life at once. If you did know your future you could be discouraged or filled with pride or both. If you’re driving on a two lane mountain road and there is a slow car in front of you, you could pass the car so you could get to your destination sooner. God is like a helicopter, He sees the other car coming toward you in the other lane. 

He knows what’s coming. Don’t forget that. Being that God sees all of your life ask Him for His strength and direction for your future. You’ll be glad you did.

Are You Patient?

We all get impatient with our circumstances and people. If it wasn’t for all the irritations in life we’d be more patient, right?  Life is not that simple is it?

Webster’s says patience is the power of suffering with fortitude, an uncomplaining endurance of evil, wrongs, insult, oppression or calamity. So, how’s that going for you?

God’s patience is described in the Old Testament as long suffering or slow to anger. There are several examples of God’s patience in the bible. God waited no less than 120 years with warnings before the flood. He patiently waited and pursued His people over the centuries.

To further display His patience with His people God directed the prophet Hosea to marry an adulterous wife who kept going back to her lovers, yet Hosea took her back repeatedly. God was giving the Hebrews a vivid example of his utter commitment and faithfulness to His people, despite their unfaithfulness to Him.

In Hosea we see a broken hearted God telling Israel, “Don’t you know how much I love you?” Israel rejected all the prophets and ultimately His own dear son. Jesus said, they (Israel) have not rejected me they have rejected their God – their Father. God’s patience is a display of his mercy.

Moses, the mediator between God and the Hebrews passionately appealed to God’s longsuffering on their behalf. Sometimes we too push God to a limit and He lovingly says to us, ‘please don’t, please stop, this will not end well for you.’

How utterly patient God is with a world that does such brazen and unimaginable things. He has been patient with Israel and with us as well. Some of us were part of the culture that has no concern for God and to primarily please ourselves. Yet, by His indescribable grace God placed us into His family and called us to be His own kids. He gave us forgiveness, purpose and an inheritance that will never go away, but oh how shallow our gratitude can be.

He has been very kind and patient, waiting for you to change, but you think nothing of his kindness. Perhaps you do not understand that how kind God is to you so you will change your hearts and live. Romans 2:4 NCV

Applying God’s incredible patience is reflected in growing in gratitude towards God.
How long does God put up with you and I? How long is His fuse towards you and me? Oh, how utterly patient He has with me over years! Have I been a model of consistency? NO, absolutely not! Have I tested the patience of god? YES! 

Think of the fuse length God has for you. Will you allow him to lengthen your fuse with other people?  How long is your fuse, have you assessed that? It’s not fun to be around people with short fuses is it?  Would you agree that God wants to lengthen your fuse?  

Are we growing in patience towards others?
Kids can help us. A little girl asked her Mom, “How come there are so many jerks in our city?” “Why would you say that?” “Well, when I was with daddy in the car today and we sure saw a lot of jerks.”

Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than he who takes a city… A patient man has great understanding but a quick tempered man shows folly… a man’s wisdom gives him patience.  Proverbs 16:32; 14:29; 16:32

God sees all sides, not just ours. How many poor choices are made because we’re in a hurry or under pressure? We don’t like to wait do we? Patience is a rare quality scarcer than diamonds, but far more precious.  The ability to accept delay graciously, calmly and understandingly reflects our trust in Christ.

Be completely humble and gentle, patient, bearing with one another in love.

                                                                                                                 Ephesians 4:2

Patience is a long haul, not a sprint, a marathon and not a 50 yard dash. How do you respond when you’re in a hurry or can’t seem to wait? When your expectations aren’t met is it your tendency to throw your hands up or roll your eyes? If you want the best possible relationships remember God’s patience with you and be patient with other peoples’ progress.

The Unchanging God

Before 911 Time Magazine had a section called Winners and Losers.  In August 2001 Rudy Giuliani was described as the lame duck Mayor of New York with crumbling health, a marriage on the rocks and a declining career. Subtitle: ‘What a loser - who would want to be this guy?’

Three weeks later Time called Rudy Giuliani the mayor of the world - a tower of leadership and strength on 911.  A few months later that same magazine made him the person of the year. Wow, how things can change. Perceptions, opinions and philosophy of life can change and most people realize change is inevitable.  It’s the one thing you can count on!

Fortunately, because God doesn’t change. He is absolutely consistent in his character.

God’s character does not change.
         
                       I the Lord do not change. Malachi 3:6  James 1:17; Dt. 32:4

Think about it, if God’s character could change he would either have to improve or deteriorate. He would have to change for the better or for the worse. How can you improve perfection?  God cannot change for the better for he’s already perfect and being perfect he cannot change for the worse.

There has never been a time when God was not; there never will be a time when He shall cease to be. He has never evolved, grown, nor improved.  All that he is today He has ever been and ever will be. Arthur Pink

Seven year old Billy prayed to God, “Dear God you better take care of yourself, if anything happens to you were all in a terrible mess.”

Like Billy, some think that during life’s challenges, “I don’t think God realizes the mess that I’m in and what’s at stake. God does not have the power to change this. I need a full strength God, He’s gotten weaker, He’s dropped the ball, He’s getting old.  He’s lost his stuff, he’s been sent down to the minor leagues."

God will always be who he is in his character. His power does not change. His omniscience has not changed.  He’s not staying home more often. He is not bedridden, sick, disengaged or tired. He who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. Ps.102:25-26

God’s truth does not change

The words of the culture are blowing in the wind, but not so with the word of God. He means what He says forever – he doesn’t change his mind! Is. 40:6-8; Mt.24:35; Ps. 119:89, 52

He stands in the witness stand and testifies for Himself. Heb.6:17-18

God’s counsel does not change
God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? Numbers 23:19

Many can change their worldview, but God never does! He never needs to change or revise his counsel.  His counsel, his plans and His ways are made on the basis of complete knowledge and control of all things past, present and future.  So there is no sudden emergencies, he is not surprised about anything.

Because God is both omnipotent and omniscient he never needs to revise his decrees. Ps.33:11  What God does in time and space he had planned to do from eternity.  Eph.1:4; 2:10 All that he is planning to do He will do. The unchanging nature of God can be seen in its beauty when seen against the fickleness of mankind.  In God no change is possible, but with people change is impossible to escape.

Philosophers over the centuries have expressed the fickleness of humankind with no real answers.  Where can we find real permanence and stability in a world of constant change where relationships crumble under change?  In the sea of relativity character and promises are sadly lacking.

People can like you one day and hate you the next. In a world of such insincerity and fickleness it’s encouraging to know that people can change.  Read about the amazing story of would be suicide bomber Erin Ahmed.

However fickle and unstable friends and families can be God is not!  If he were manipulated, coaxed, influenced or begged off he would not be God!  There is a tremendous peace in knowing that your heavenly father’s character never changes.  In coming to him at any time we never have to wonder whether he is in a receptive mood.  Our Father is always receptive to our pain and our need to be loved. Heb. 7:25

God does not keep office hours, he does not set aside periods when he will see no one. He does not  change His mind about anything, not even you! 

Right now what God feels about his creation whether its babies, the frail, the sick, the elderly, the marginalized, the sinful and confused is as he did when he sent his only son into the world for you and I.

His love for you never cools off. He doesn’t lose enthusiasm for you. Nobody is 100% consistent except God! If you don’t know this unchanging God why not ask him into your life?

God Knows About Closed Doors

God knows the agony of more closed doors than anyone ever will. God has given to every person the key to the door of their own heart, but God will not force his way in. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock…”(Rev.3:20)

It’s not just that we hope God will open a door for us, but God hopes we will open a door for him.

We have or inevitably will someday stand in pain at a closed door. I cannot provide an explanation or reasons your heartfelt felt prayers are not answered, but I can point you to a Person. I can tell you that at the heart of the gospel is a desperate unanswered prayer.

Jesus prayed, “Father, if it is possible, may this cup, this suffering, this death be taken from me.” Yet not my will, but yours, be done.” As author John Ortberg said, “This is the most desperate prayer ever prayed from the most discerning spirit that ever lived, from the purest heart that ever beat, for deliverance from the most unjust suffering ever known. And all it got was silence. Heaven was not moved. The cup was not taken from him. The request was denied. The door remained closed.”

That unwanted and unjust suffering became the hope of the world because the ultimate answer to every human drama is a blood-soaked cross where the Son of God himself suffered. Nobody has all the answers, but what if our most difficult prayer requests were answered yes?  

What if God had said yes to His son’s request? What if Jesus had been spared his suffering? What if there had been no cross, no death, no tomb, no resurrection, no forgiveness of sins, no birth of the church? What if? I don’t know why some prayers get yeses and some prayers get nos.

I know the disappointment of a no when you desperately need a yes more than anything in the world, but I don’t know why. I only know that in the cross God’s no to his only Son turned into God’s yes to everyone who ever lived. Yours and my unanswered prayer or a closed door just might be to other people’s benefit, we just need to trust God that He knows what's best!

Open Doors For You

Most of us could say, “That’s not quite what I was planning for my life.”
Like bible characters we could not have predicted where our lives would take us. In the scriptures we see God’s unmistakable guidance through a burning bush, a fleece, a voice, a dream, an angel. God can also lead us in no less significant ways, like doors.

For some of us a door may be locked or hidden or a door has meant rejection – ‘They shut the door in my face.’ OR an ‘open’ door can be a choice of boundless opportunities to learn, to do something worthwhile or discover purpose and satisfaction. God can open a door for you in any circumstance!

In Viktor Frankl’s book The Meaning of Man he tells about how Nazis imprisoned him in a concentration camp. They took away his profession, confiscated his possessions, mocked his dignity, and killed his family. They locked him in a cell with no way out.

A room without an open door is a prison, but he found  a door that his guards knew nothing about: “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”

Frankl discovered that doors are not just physical. A door is a choice.
As author John Ortberg says about Frankl.“Frankl found that when his circumstances had closed every outer door to him, they revealed to him the doors that matter far more—the doors through which a soul can leave fear and enter into courage, leave hatred and enter into forgiveness, leave ignorance and enter into learning. He discovered that his guards were actually more imprisoned – by their cruelty and Ignorance and foolish obedience to barbarism—than he was imprisoned by walls and barbed wire.”

Some people learn this and become free; some never see it and live as prisoners.
There is always an open door for us to choose! God provides open doors for us to make wise choices. Are you ready for that door? How will you discern which door to walk through and if it is from God? 

I invite you join us in the upcoming blogs for the answers to these questions.

The Jonah In Us

Jonah was in dire consequences because he ran from God. In his desperation he cried out and God heard his prayer and gave him a second chance.  Although Jonah messed up badly God wanted Jonah to complete the mission that he assigned him.

Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: "Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least put on sackcloth. Jonah 3:1,5

The message from Jonah was believed from the commoner to the King. It was a full blown revival. It’s too bad the book of Jonah ended here with this good news in chapter three, but God reveals our broken human condition in this story.  

When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways He had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened. But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. He prayed to the LORD,"O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, O LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”  Jonah 3:10 - 4:3

Why was he angry? What’s going on here? Jonah wanted judgment and not grace for the Ninevites. Jonah wanted what they deserved. Come on God, bring your wrath to these deplorables, these are not your kind of people.

Like Jonah, most of us have biases and preferences that we learned from our parents, friends, the media and our culture. Perhaps unknowingly were like this bus driver.

The bus driver was pointing out the sites of the Civil War Battle of Nashville. He said, “Right over here a small group of Confederate soldiers held off a whole Yankee brigade.” A little farther along, he said, “Over there, a young Confederate boy, all by himself held off a Yankee platoon.” This went on and on until finally a member of tour group asked, “Didn’t the Yankees win anything in the Battle of Nashville?” The bus driver replied, “Not while I’m the driver of this bus they didn’t!”

What God said to Jonah was that, I’m a God of compassion, this why I sent you to Nineveh in the first place? If anybody should get it you should, you’re a recipient of my grace too? Why not rejoice with me over their repentance? Your pride and prejudice is causing you to only think of yourself. Don’t you get it Jonah, it’s not about you. 

Don’t you see Jonah if they knew me they wouldn’t do the evil things that they do. Jonah, you’re more concerned about the things you think they deserve. You’re not concerned about what I’m concerned about. I care about the ones you despise and think are not worth redeeming.

Pride and prejudice has always been with us from the early hatred of the Jews in Esther’s day to the Nazi Jewish ghettos, to American Indians, slavery, Japanese internment camps, to apartheid. As Mark Twain said, “History tells us that prejudice is the ink of which all history is written.”

Is it possible that there is some of Jonah in us?Could it be we’re more concerned about our own comfort and preferences than those around us and those who don’t know Christ? In the everyday stuff of life what gets in the way from us being concerned about the people God is concerned about? 

When our concerns sync up with God’s imagine what could happen in the lives of those we come in contact with? Aren’t you glad that God thought you were worth His time and concern? God deeply concerned about our generation, our families, our neighbors and our friends. 

God is the finder of lost coins and lost sheep. He embraces prodigals. His favorite department is lost and found. His love has no limits. His grace has no measures. His power has no boundaries. He redeems and is present now. When you and I align our concerns with God’s we’ll experience a truly satisfied life. 

A Better View of Your Heavenly Father

We can be grateful if we’ve been fortunate enough to have had Dads that left a positive and memorable impact in our lives. But, unfortunately, that isn’t true for all of us. Some Dads were physically or emotionally absent or maybe married to their jobs. They didn’t affirm us as they could have or perhaps never said, ‘I love you.’We’ve heard this before.

Today in 41% of U.S. homes fathers are not living with their family. Additionally, 66% of all kids in America will live with only one biological parent by age 16. You’ve probably heard that there is a connection between our earthly fathers and our perception of God.

Although our concept of God may have been distorted by our relationship with our fathers it doesn’t need to define our view of God. 

We have a choice between believing what God has said about Himself or allow our own experiences to determine that for us. Regardless of where and how our view of God was developed God is able to reveal Himself to you and me accurately. Jesus referred to His father over 100 times in the Gospel of John. 

Jesus loved to talk about his father, his favorite subject. But the religious of Jesus’s day were like many today confused about the fatherhood of God. God is not merely like a father, He is a Father.

  

The greatest need for everyone regardless of their parentage is to know the Father.
The prophet Jeremiah said, “Let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me,” ‘Understanding’ is to have correct insight into the nature of a thing. The word ‘know’ is the Hebrew word yada, which is ‘to know intimately.’

When we understand God’s heart and posture towards us it helps us understand not only who He is, but ourselves as well. It helps us to accurately interpret our world and experience true lasting significance and security, preventing a whole lot of wasted religiosity.  Here are a few truths about life’s greatest pursuit - Knowing God.

Your Divine Dad is personal - Hebrews 4:15
He is not a force, a concept or doctrine or a distant monarch. He is not unmoved by our suffering and pain. There was a father and three year old daughter who were grieving the loss of their wife and mom who was killed in a traffic accident. It seemed that all happiness had gone out of their lives and the night after the funeral the father was putting his baby girl to bed when all the lights went out in the house. 

The dad decided to go into the basement to investigate and said to his daughter. “I’ll be right back dear, lie still and I’ll be right back.” She was frightened at the thought of being left alone and begged him to take her with him. He wrapped her in his arms and made his way through the darkened hallway and went down the dark stairwell.

In the basement the little girl hugged his neck tightly and said, “It’s really dark daddy, but I’m not afraid because you’re my daddy.” The dad buried his face in his daughters’ hair and began to weep and said, “I’m not afraid either because my father is with me to.” So even in the midst of the sadness and sorrow the thought of Gods’ loving watch care over them brought light and hope to their darkness.  Hebrews 4:16; I John 5:14

He listens to you. Psalm 91:14-15; Mark 5:33 

One day while working in my home office my daughter wanted to talk to me and I told her I was busy studying, but that I was really listening. She put her two little hands around my face and said, “No Daddy, listen to me with your face.” Thankfully, God the Father listens to you with His full attention.

God Knows

After Joseph’s prison release and his several years of faithful service in the Pharaoh’s court he becomes the equivalent of Egypt’s Prime Minister. During a severe famine twenty years later Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt seeking food for their literal survival. Ironically, they have to bow before Joseph to buy food (remember his dreams?) not recognizing their brother.

Because he deeply yearns to see his dad and younger brother Benjamin Joseph not only provides for them but suspects they are spies and in order to prove their innocence they must leave their brother Simeon behind until they bring back the younger Benjamin from Palestine.

After Joseph’s request his brothers are absolutely undone, "Surely we are being punished because of what we did to our brother Joseph.” In an extraordinary contrast we read, before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph. Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, "It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and my entire father's household." The second son he named Ephraim and said, "It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering. Gen. 41:50-52.

Ultimately, none of Joseph’s rejection and heartbreak was wasted. Nothing in our lives is insignificant in the hand of a loving God for He does not waste our pain, but uses it (2 Corinthians 1:4).

The brothers return to Egypt for more food and as requested bring their younger brother. At the sight of Benjamin Joseph hurriedly runs from their presence and is overcome with emotion. Joseph plays another ploy on them and keeps Benjamin with him in order to get them to bring back their father Jacob.

The oldest brother Judah emphatically tells Joseph that their father will die of grief if they don’t bring back Benjamin alive. At the hearing of this pleading Joseph can no longer restrain himself and openly weeps as he tells his brothers, “I am Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt,” His brothers were unable to speak because they were terrified at his presence Gen.45:4. Can you imagine being there right then?

Then Joseph kindly said to them, “do not be afraid, and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God.” Genesis 45:1-8  Absolutely amazing! Joseph maintained that God had his best in mind.

God knows and understands your life and can turn evil into good
You can be so easily disillusioned when your hope is in man or the very common shallow fixes the culture readily provides. If you come to place where you think God doesn’t care about you, you are in a very dark place indeed. But it’s just not true. I don't have to know all the answers. I just have to know that God knows, that he is good, and that he loves me. God does care about you and is intimately acquainted with your life.Ps.139:3; Heb. 4:25; 1 Pet.5:7

God wants you to be free from bitterness.
God doesn’t want your heart to become callous and hard. Guard you heart and don’t allow it to slowly become bitter and closed. If you do, you will not be fun to be around. There is a more excellent way.

Joseph had every reason to be bitter, but we have no indication that he hated his brothers after all they did to him. After his 27 years of imprisonment Nelson Mandela who also could have sought revenge said, “People learn to hate, they can be taught to love.” Love that!

“The most difficult ingredient of suffering is often time. Short periods of pain can be endured, but when a sorrow drags on its long and weary way year after monotonous year, returning day after day with the same dull routine of hopeless agony, the heart loses its strength. Without the grace of God, the heart is sure to sink into dismal despair.” C.W. Cowman

God knows your story and He sees every tear drop fall.Thankfully God’s grace is always available to you, it will never run dry. God has not forgotten you. He does cares about you and has the all of heaven’s resources to help you right now! Like Joseph, will you trust that He has your best interest in mind? Trust Him you’ll be glad you did.

With hope and assurance,

Mark

Preventing Terrorism - One Woman's Response

Life can be brutal
There were hundreds of innocent lives lost in Paris, Beirut and on Flight 9268 this last week. Terrorism is not new and our sorrow is compounded because acts of evil are not unfamiliar. So many parts of our world are torn and besieged. So many parts of our world are cauldrons of violence and cruelty.

Over two millennia ago Queen Esther was overwhelmed with terror over Haman’s violent and hideous plot to exterminate her people. Maybe like Esther you’re asking, what is going on? Why are these things happening to me? What can I possibly do?

As we saw last week king Xerxes was reminded that Mordecai had saved his life from assassination. Wanting to honor Mordecai the king asked Haman, his second in command,“What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?” Thinking the king was about to honor him Haman tells the king to put the king’s royal robe on the man, put him on a horse and parade him through the city streets.

The king commanded Haman. “Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. You lead the horse. Do not neglect anything you have recommended.” Esther 6:10-11

Haman runs home puzzled, dejected and absolutely undone. While telling his wife what had just happened he is hurried away to Esther’s banquet? The king again asked, “Queen Esther, now what is your petition?

Esther tells the king the dire news that her people are going to be destroyed. The fickle forgetful King Xerxes asks, “Who would dare do such a thing? Esther replies, “An adversary and enemy! This vile Haman!”  The king is enraged and Haman begs Esther for his life. Ironically the king hangs him on the same gallows he had built for Mordecai.

God appointed promotion
King Xerxes promotes Mordecai and replaces Haman as his new chief of staff. Esther reminds the king that his edict is still in force and weeps and begs the king to rescind his kingdom wide edict to annihilate the Jews.  Xerxes revokes his edict and the Jews are miraculously delivered. Let the party begin!

In every province and in every city to which the edict of the king came, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them. Esther 8:17

An entire nation was saved because a young woman said yes to a bigger purpose than her life of safety, security and wealth. That was her day. One day it will be yours.

You are here for a particular reason
Maybe you wonder why you are where you are, but you’re here for a particular purpose. It may not seem to be as dramatic as Esther, but like Esther you will have God appointed opportunities.

Your life is part of a much BIGGER story – God’s story
Conditions for the Jews were far from ideal. They were dismal. They we’re in exile thousands of miles from home and in danger of losing their culture and language and no corporate place of worship. In the book of Esther God is not even named, he’s off stage, you can’t see Him, but He is the main character.

Things are not what they seem. God shows up in unlikely places like a manger, a cross, at your work, at your home, in your life. God is present! As in Esther’s life God is sovereignly at work behind the scenes in your life. Who knows what He has in store for you “for such a time as this”?

You have a crucial role to play
What is your role in the Story? The only one that can tell you that is the Author.  Ask Him to show you what He intends for you and what you are to do. Don’t underestimate your role in the everyday stuff of life. 

These are desperate times and people need grace from you and I. Grace is found where God is found, in the pressure points of life. And even in a very broken world, grace and deliverance can be found in one opportunity at a time.

Mark

Keeping The Main Thing The Main Thing

People are more connected than ever before through social media, but we’re also more isolated from one another. Over the last fifteen years, attendance at club meetings has dropped 58 percent; family dinners have dropped 43 percent and having friends over has dropped by 35 percent. We crave community even as we seek to avoid it. Why?

Perhaps it’s because of our expectations of relationships and our vision of community is on our own terms rather than God’s? Maybe we like the idea of community, but not actual community. Most of us desire intimacy and genuine friendships, but we can struggle in experiencing it.

Mark Labberton said, “We may long to know others and to be known, but the culture teaches us to practice superficiality rather than honesty, to share competencies, not weaknesses, and to hide skillfully rather than seek genuine trust. We are less and less in community.”

One of the ironies of an increasingly urbanized techno world and a global population is that people commonly experience life alone. Community should be a natural cornerstone of life as a Christ-follower, we’re meant to be a part of the community of God’s people. Some find it difficult to to be accepted and belong to a community.

I've known several Asian American Christians who had deep identity conflicts within their families in their process of fitting into American culture. Their homeland was so radically different from the U.S. We’re they to keep their Asian culture’s deference to their elders or become the highly individualized American that their parents warned them about?

Many said they were sojourners. Many of them came to believe that whatever city (Los Angeles) they were in was the place where God had sent them and that the story of that city was their story as well.

Like my Asian friends in L.A. many are stuck in their silos rather experiencing the risk and joy of being in a community who is truly not like them in ethnicity, background, personality or in other ways. How can we help those kinds of people or maybe you’re stuck too?
It could help us to distinguish between the “first things” and the “next things.”

First things

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 22:36-39

If you’re a Christ follower God’s call to us is that we love God first and our neighbors second and that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we come to bear the fruit of the Spirit in our lives: 

“…but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faith- Illness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).

The first things (our common calling as Christ followers) have more of an emphasis on loving than just doing. Being in a love relationship with God can enable us to become the kind of person that the Galatians passage describes. It can open doors for others to see Christ regardless of what we are doing and with whom.

Next things
After the first primary things God has specific things in mind (callings) for us in the context of work and relationships where our gifts, talents, education, opportunity and passion can draw us to our jobs or volunteering. Next things are not first things although both matter.

The call of the first things is primary, yet we are tempted to make the next thing the first thing. We go about life and forget or neglect who we are, that we are loved and are to love others. We are meant to develop the first things as we go about the next thing knowing that they are not the same.

God is far more concerned about the first things than the next things (daily tasks…) – how we love Him and our neighbor.  As we do this our love for God will be seen in how we love others in the everyday stuff of life. 

Trusting God in the Unknown

Have you ever felt upside down in life asking will I ever get through this situation? Brian Wolf of Sugar Grove, Oregon sure did. While taking target practice at some cans in the woods Brian reached behind a large tree stump to pick up the cans and he fell into the stump head first. For the next six hours Brian yelled for help, but no one could hear him.

After dark his family reported him missing. The forest service found his parked truck and they searched with flashlights and were suddenly surprised to see two boots sticking up out of a tree stump. They carefully pulled him out and he was fine. According to Brian the hardest and embarrassing part was explaining to his small town how it happened.

Have you ever cried out for help, but no one was listening?

When Abraham’s life was upside down he made mistakes to be sure, yet many other times he trusted God despite how difficult his situation. He learned from his miscues and developed a deeper trust along the way. Abraham is listed among the other heroes of faith in Hebrews eleven.

Who is a hero of faith anyway? Is it someone who can quote chapter and verse and has all the theological answers? I think Jim Cymbala has a better definition.

 “The deepest believers are the ones who are bent over because they are leaning so heavily into their relationship with God, knowing that they can do nothing without utter dependence on Christ. The greatest Christian is not the one who has achieved the most but rather the one who has received the most. God’s grace, love and mercy flow through the people the most that walk in total dependence.”

The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. Genesis 12:1

Abraham obeyed God and left all that was familiar to him, his home, his friends, his favorite eating establishments while not knowing where he was going. Say again Abraham, how does that work? When he left home he had no detailed map or an exact address for his GPS.

Abraham trusted God with an unknown future.
Even when we do have a definitive location with a GPS and our plans are mapped out our futures can still be very uncertain. Life takes a turn we didn’t plan on.

Man plans his ways, but the Lord directs his steps. Prov.16:9

Before Abraham leaves his homeland God promises that He will bless him and make his name great and he’ll become a father of nations. Gen. 12:1-4  Jews, Muslims and Christians all count themselves as Abraham’s offspring.

Have you ever been asked to leave a comfortable place to go to a place you’re really not sure of? If a stranger asked us to go somewhere we’ve never been before we’d probably say no way, but if it’s Someone who has proven they’re trustworthy we would be more inclined to say yes.

Along Abraham’s faith journey he lied about his wife Sarai to the Pharaoh to save his own neck. Like us, Abraham took steps forward in his faith, but he also took steps backwards as well. Now, that should give you and I some hope. As it was with Abraham God can also redeem our failings.  People say Abraham had BIG faith, but he was nothing without the God of Abraham!

Abraham was looking for something more than just a new location.
For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Heb.11:10

May we learn from Abraham to trust God with our unknown futures despite the hardship.

Join us next time as we explore more about Abraham’s faith and develop our faith as well.

Remember Me?

Favoritism, jealousy, sibling rivalry, rejection, abandonment, false accusation and imprisonment were all the experiences of the Prince of Egypt. While the extremes of Joseph’s trials pale in comparison to most of our experiences, all of us have been mistreated. Most of Joseph’s unfair circumstances were linked to other’s decisions. The decisions of others do impact us in ways we wish did not. If you have ever been misunderstood or mistreated there is something in the life of Joseph for you.

Like Joseph, things happen to us that are beyond our control. When everything is stripped away from someone other than God and they face their harsh reality we see the kind of person they are or who they will become. How true this was of Joseph?

If you look closely at Joseph’s family history you’ll see that it was one of the most dysfunctional families on the planet. Much like how Rebekah spoiled her son Jacob, Jacob pampered his favorite son Joseph from his favorite wife Rachel. Joseph was used to getting his way. Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons. Gen.37:3  Oh, how much we can learn about how not to repeat the follies of our own families.

While there are differing opinions about the coat Jacob gave to Joseph most scholars agree that the coat’s appearance declared he was exempt from hard labor and his brothers resented it and became intensely envious and jealous.
When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him. Gen. 37:4

Most teenagers’ dreams don’t come true, but when Joseph shared (perhaps arrogantly?) his prophetic dreams that his dad and brothers would bow down to him they resented him even more. So, when the opportunity came his brothers sought to kill him, but instead they sold him to some traveling Ishmaelites who later sold him to Potiphar, the Pharaoh’s captain of the guard.

They smeared animal blood on the very coat that aroused so much angst and told their father he had been killed by a wild animal. Liars!

Now rejected, abandoned and sold like livestock Joseph is in a strange land with a new culture and language. Perhaps Joseph thought his arrogance and pride got him there or he blamed his brothers, but either way God was in this.

In the midst of his despair the Bible says, God was with Joseph. The Lord was working things out despite how Joseph felt. Joseph faithfully served Potiphar and God blessed  his hard work.

Even though Joseph proved his integrity by not caving into the demands of Potiphar’s desperate housewife, Potiphar believed his wife’s false accusation of rape and he was promptly convicted and imprisoned. While in prison Joseph had plenty of time to think about his life, how it all went wrong and how messed up his family was. Have you ever thought, will my situation ever change, will I ever see deliverance? Can God change it or should I?

Now seemingly forgotten in prison Joseph successfully interprets the dreams of fellow inmates who providentially were the Pharaoh’s former cup bearer and baker. Joseph pleads with them, “when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison.”

Unfortunately, upon their release the baker and the cup bearer forgot about Joseph. But the God who sees and cares did not forget him. Despite all that Joseph had been through God had an ultimate purpose for him, the saving of many lives including his entire family. Two years later Joseph’s ability to accurately interpret dreams was finally recognized and he was released.

There are some truths that we can apply from Joseph’s life. The first truth is that God works all things for His glory and your good.

Five times we read that the Lord was with Joseph in the midst if it all. It’s true for you too. God has not forgotten YOU! Please don’t’ forget that.

“Life is not a straight line leading from one blessing to the next and then finally to heaven. Life is a winding and troubled road. Switchback after switchback. And the point of biblical stories like Joseph is to help us feel in our bones (not just know in our heads) that God is for us in all these strange turns. God is not just showing up after the trouble and cleaning it up. He is plotting the course and managing the troubles with far-reaching purposes for our good and for the glory of Jesus Christ." John Piper, A Sweet and Bitter Providence

Later Joseph told his brothers, “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.” Genesis 50:20

You and I have a real choice to make, we can throw in the towel and resign ourselves to despair, cynicism and blaming others OR we can choose to believe that God is working on your behalf despite what it may look like. Now, move forward and make the right choice, you’ll be glad you did.

Join us as we explore more life changing truths from Joseph's life in the next blog.

With Hope,

Mark

Love Can Break Your Heart

Has your love ever been rejected or not believed by a close friend or a family member? If so, you know it breaks your heart and leaves you feeling deeply dismayed. 

Don't they get how much I love them? What must I do convince them of my love and concern for them? I don’t deserve this after all I’ve done for them. In times like these we ask questions like:

Why is this happening? How did this come about? What have I done? What words have I said or things that I’ve done to bring this about? How did our family dynamic and history play a part? And we wonder…

If you’ve experienced this sadness you’re in good company and God fully understands.

Joseph experienced all these things. Being raised in an extremely dysfunctional family (who’s exempt here?) and being his dad’s favorite among his large family his deeply jealous brothers sell him to slave traders and he ends up in Egypt. While living there with integrity he is unjustly accused, convicted and sentenced to prison.
 

During his twelve years of making license plates for chariots he is seemingly forgotten, yet the Bible says, “The Lord with Joseph.”  Now that’s something to always keep in mind for you too. Supposedly dead and forgotten Joseph miraculously becomes the next in line to the Pharaoh (Gen. 41:43).

During a severe middle-eastern famine Joseph’s brothers go to Egypt in desperate need of food. Over a period of time Joseph meets all their needs while keeping his identity hidden. After keeping his emotions in check for quite some time Joseph can no longer control himself and breaks down in tears and tells his brothers, “I am Joseph, your brother.”

OMG! What? Say that again? They are absolutely terrified! Despite his brother’s fears Joseph meets their needs and is finally reunited with their Father Jacob. Joseph graciously takes care of his brothers’ families during the famine years.

When their Father Jacob dies the brothers fear the worst now that their Dad is dead. We’re going to get what coming to us. So they sent word to Joseph saying, your father left these instructions before he died: “I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins they committed in treating you so badly. Now please forgive the sins of your brothers.” When the message came to Joseph he wept. (Gen. 50:17).

His brothers came and threw themselves down before him and pleaded, “We are your slaves.” But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good. So then don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your families.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. Gen.50:18-19 Amazing love how can it be.

Joseph wept when he heard the message from his brothers. It broke his heart that they did not believe that he had already forgiven them. Had he not already shown his forgiveness to them by his actions? He could have meted out anger and justice, but he knew love was a better way.

Joseph is a picture of God’s amazing love for us. Like Joseph, God’s heart is saddened when we don’t really believe that we’re forgiven in Christ when he has declared it to be so. Like Joseph, God has forgiven us and has spoken kindly to us. Aren’t you glad God doesn’t give us what we deserve, but what we need?

If your love has ever been rejected, not believed or misunderstood you’re not alone in that sadness. God knows what that’s like too. After all, His love has been rejected for thousands of years. Yet, His love for you has never changed and it never will. Grab hold of it and don’t ever let go!

Hope for 2014

Maybe you’re like me and have good intentions and plans for 2014, but discover that following through is another thing or that there are some things we can’t change no matter how hard we try. Some of us have regrets about this past year. Some have nightmares of what has happened or what might happen.

Some have day-mares, the reality that this world is really screwed up and things in their life are actually bad. What do you do? Run? Find a way of escape? Or endure?

As we face a new year of unchartered waters it is quite tempting to once again make a list of well-intentioned resolutions and goals, many of which are soon broken. We can resolve to change bad habits and replace them with better ones, but ultimately trying harder is not the answer.

While we may have a general idea of what to expect, we cannot be certain. The wisest cannot tell us what we may encounter this new year. What new experiences, what changes shall come, what new needs shall arise? This past year some have experienced more ills than death at its worst can cause and they look forward to the Promised Land where there will finally be no more pain and no more tears.

Things may not improve for you in the way you desire, but God’s love will always be constant. This past year two friends of mine died. One lived for many months and the other died within six weeks of his diagnosis. Although many hoped and prayed for a different outcome death was inescapable. 

Regardless of where you might be today on the roller coaster of life your future can be better than your past or present. How’s that?  Even if your circumstances don’t change there is always hope in God’s love as seen in this story from the Samaritan’s Purse Fall 2013 Prayer Point.

Civil war has raged in Syria more than years. At first Saheed and his wife Farah were not affected by the war until there was gunfire in their neighborhood and friends were killed in their home town of Aleppo. After a bomb destroyed their home they fled rebel lines into Turkey where they have no rights, cannot work legally nor can their kids attend school.

As Christians in a predominantly Muslim region leaving Turkey for better opportunities in surrounding countries seems impossible. They struggle to survive day to day and do not know what the future holds for them, but they know that God is in control and His love will prevail.

Because of their hope and faith they believe that, “our suffering, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” I Corinthians 4:17
Saheed and his family also know where to place their hope, “…we rejoice in hope of the glory of God…Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts.” Romans 5:2, 5
This new year pursue all that God has for you and be grateful for the things He does provide. Your future has everything to do with how you respond to God this year. May these encouraging words of Jesus resonate with your heart throughout the entire year. 

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.  John 14:27