What is your life? You are a mist...

James 4:13-15

13 Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money."  14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.  WHAT IS YOUR LIFE?  YOU ARE A MIST that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  15 Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."

Not a day goes by that I don't think about my dad.  He was my hero.  My dad worked hard to provide for my mom, my brothers, and me.  My dad always went above and beyond to make us feel special, to make us feel loved.  On Memorial Day, May 29, 1989, my dad worked in the yard all morning long.  At lunch, he decided to grill food for us.  My oldest brother's girlfriend came over.  My girlfriend (now my wife) came over.  We ate some good food and laughed a lot.  Later that afternoon, my dad coached my youngest brother's baseball game.  My brother Chris was pitching for his team in a game that would decide first place in their summer league.  My dad was excited about the game, but he was even more excited about Chris pitching and all of us being there to watch him.  However, after about two innings, my dad wasn't feeling well.  It was just a few moments laters that my dad would take his last breath on this earth, right there on the field where he coached all three of us - John, Chris, and me.  My dad died of a massive heart attack on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29, 1989.

In James 4:14, James asks a question: "WHAT IS YOUR LIFE?"  He gives the answer: "YOU ARE A MIST that appears for a little while and then vanishes."  We have life because God breathed life into our bodies.  However, life on this earth is short.  I was 15 years old when my dad died.  I thank God for the 15 years I had with my dad.  My dad loved me.  My dad taught me.  My dad loved to laugh.  Looking back, I sure do wish I had more time with him on this earth...to love, to learn, and to laugh.  It definitely seems like a "mist" now.  I am a husband and a father today.  I work hard to provide for my family.  I love my kids.  I teach my kids.  I laugh a lot with my kids.  But there are times when I am guilty of believing I have all the time in the world to do this or to do that.  There are times when I am guilty of the attitude found in James 4:13, the attitude of "today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money."  I have to realize that my life is a "mist."  I am only here for a little while, and then I will vanish.  I have to embrace the attitude and the truth of James 4:15, which is simple: "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."  I also have to embrace the encouragement of Paul in his letter to the churches at Ephesus and at Colosse.  Paul said on two different occasions, "Make the most of every opportunity."  In the ministry, I need to make the most of every opportunity to share the gospel of Jesus with everyone.  In my family, I need to make the most of every opportunity to share and to show the love of God.  My life is short.  My life is a "mist."  I don't know when I will take my last breath.   I need to "make the most of every opportunity."  I need to be ready.

Yesterday morning, I was typing a message on my computer.  I had typed about a page and a half of notes when the electricity went out.  You know what happened.  I didn't save my work yet.  I had just started.  Everything was fine.  It was bright and clear outside.  I would have time to save my work in a little while.  NOPE.  The electricity went off without warning.  I wasn't ready.  I lost all my work.  Hey, a page and a half is a page and a half!  I sat there stunned, confused, and even a little angry.  I was reminded in that moment that I need to be ready.  Anything can happen.  I was reminded in that moment that I can make all the plans I want in this life, but ultimately, God's got this.  He can do what He wants when He wants how He wants with whom He wants.  He is God, and I am not.  

Thank You, Father, for life.  Thank You for the full and the eternal life we have in Jesus.  Thank You for reminding us in Your Word that life is short; it is a "mist."  Thank You for reminding us to "make the most of every opportunity."  Thank You for the time you do give us in this life...the time to love, the time to learn, and the time to laugh.  Thank You for my dad and the time I had with him on this earth.  Thank You for the hope of Jesus and salvation, for I know that I will see my dad again!  I pray that I will never take for granted the life You give me. I pray that I make the most of every second of every minute of every hour of every day that You give me!  Help me, Father, to live in the attitude and in the truth of this statement: "If it is the Lord's will."  Amen!

In the Midst of Suffering (Part 2)

Isaiah 43:1-7

1 But now, this is what the Lord says - he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; YOU ARE MINE.  2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.  3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, you Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Sheba sin you're stead.  4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life.  5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.  6 I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.'  Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth - 7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."

The Bible is clear: life is hard.  From the moment that sin entered our world, brokenness, suffering, and hardship came with it.  Suffering is a result of our sin, as we see in Genesis 3.  However, God loves us.  God made a way through the life, the death, and the resurrection of Jesus for us to be right with Him.  God rescued us and redeemed us through the blood of Jesus!  Did God take away the suffering and the hardships?  No.  However, God is sovereign.  And as we see throughout the Bible, God uses the suffering and the hardships in our lives for our good and for His glory!  Isaiah 43 is one of my favorite passages in the Bible.  I don't want to take it out of context, so let's think about what God says to Israel in this passage.  In verse 1, God reminds Israel that He created them and formed them.  He reminds Israel that He gave them their name.  God reminds Israel that they belong to Him.  Verse 1 alone shows us the intimacy God desires and has with His children.  Verses 2 - 7 show us even more, in regard to sufferings and to hardships.  Twice God tells His children, "Do not fear," and "Do not be afraid."  He warns Israel that obstacles will be encountered as He brings them home.  But the beauty of these verse is found in God's statements to Israel: "I will be with you," and "I am with you."  Yes, God made a promise to Israel that He would rescue them and redeem them because He loved them!  Throughout the hardships and the sufferings, He would bless them with His sovereign presence.

Today, through my repentance of sin and my faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, I am a child of God.  I belong to Him.  Through Jesus, I can hear God say to me, as well, "YOU ARE MINE!"  I may not encounter the same sufferings and the same hardships that Israel faced when Isaiah spoke this prophecy.  However, I do and will face sufferings and hardships in this life that will feel to me like it must have felt to Israel.  I don't know about you, but there are times in my life when I feel like the waters are going to sweep over me.  There are times when I feel like I am going to drown in the river of suffering.  There are times when the flames get hot and even hotter.  There are times when I feel like the flame of hardship is going to burn me up and devour me.  In these moments, I can trust what I feel, or I can trust what and Who I know.  I know what God says to me and what God says about me in His Word.  I know that God loves me and has demonstrated His love for me in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, His only Son and my only Savior.  No, I don't know what my future holds, but I do know Who holds my future.  I don't know when my flesh will fall to the ground from which it came, but I do know in that moment when it does, I will be with my Lord forever and ever!  I know that one day I will be with my Lord in glory, where no more sufferings and hardships will ever exist!  Until that time, I will believe my God and believe His words to me and for me.  I pray today that you will walk in the knowledge of God and who you are in Jesus rather than walking in your feelings that shift and change like the winds of the earth.  I pray today that you hear God when He says to you, "YOU ARE MINE!  Do not fear.  Do not be afraid.  I will be with you.  I am with you."  Amen!

In the Midst of Suffering (Part 1)

1 Thessalonians 1:4-8

4 For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction.  You know how we lived among you for your sake.  6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message IN THE MIDST OF SUFFERING with joy given by the Holy Spirit.  7 And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.  8 The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia - your faith in God has become known everywhere.  Therefore we do not need to say anything about it.

I believe all of are in one of three places in this life: 1. We are either COMING OUT of suffering; 2. We are IN THE MIDDLE of suffering;  or 3. We are HEADING TOWARD suffering.  The dictionary says to "suffer" means "to undergo or to be subjected to or to endure pain, distress, possible injury, loss, or anything unpleasant."  The Holman Bible Dictionary says three categories of suffering exist: 1. Suffering caused by physical limitations; 2. Suffering caused by natural disasters; and 3. Suffering caused by human actions.  Suffering is a reality in this life.

The Bible says much to us about suffering.  One question that is asked time and time again about suffering is this: WHY DO WE SUFFER?  In Genesis 1, we read that God created the heavens and the earth.  When God created the earth and everything in it, it was good.  The man and the woman were enjoying a perfect world and a perfect relationship with God.  In Genesis 3, the man and the woman chose to sin against God.  In that moment, sin came into this world, and the world has been broken ever since.  Suffering came into this world as a result of sin.  However, God loves us.  God stepped into our brokenness and our sin, and He made a way to be right with Him.  In Genesis 3:14-19, God made two promises that we need to know.  God promised a Savior, One who would rescue us and redeem us from our sin.  God also promised suffering because of sin.  Pain and toil and trouble would plague the earth and mankind.  If we are not careful, we focus so much on the promise of suffering and the reality of suffering that we miss the promise and the reality of salvation!

Paul David Tripp says in his book, Suffering, "Suffering is real, tangible, personal, and specific.  Scripture presents to the one suffering a loving God who understands, who cares, and who invites us to come to Him for help, and who promises us one day to end all suffering of every kind."  Why do we suffer?  We suffer as a result of sin.  However, God can and will use the suffering to bring us blessings!  When you look at the church mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 1, we see the people IN THE MIDST OF SUFFERING.  Yet, this church - these people - were marked by faith, hope, and love (v. 3).  This church - these people - had a dynamic faith!  Their local communities knew about their faith.   The world knew about their faith.  Paul said that he didn't need to say anything about their faith because their lives said enough!  How did they respond IN THE MIDST OF SUFFERING?  They chose to focus on the message of the gospel IN THE MIDST OF SUFFERING.  The Holy Spirit blessed them with joy IN THE MIDST OF SUFFERING.  God blessed them IN THE MIDST OF SUFFERING.  We need to remember that God has a long-term plan in mind for us as believers; His plan is not temporal but rather eternal.  Through repentance and belief in Jesus Christ, God saves us from our sin, and He sanctifies in this life.  God uses the suffering in this life for our good and for His glory.  Paul David Tripp also says in his book, "Suffering has the power to expose what or who you have been trusting all along."  When we suffer, we can learn so much more about God and so much more about ourselves.  Many times I have learned through suffering that I trust in myself way too much; I trust in my family, my education, my job, and my resources on earth way too much.  I have learned through suffering that I don't really trust God as much as I say I do, or worst yet, at all when things begin to all apart.  IN THE MIDST OF SUFFERING, I have to choose what or who I believe.  I have to choose to believe that God is with me and God is for me.  I have to choose to believe that God is in control even when I don't feel it or see it.  What or who I believe makes all the difference IN THE MIDST OF SUFFERING.

I don't know where you are right now...coming out of suffering, in the middle of suffering, or heading toward suffering.  I don't know what or who you are trusting IN THE MIDST OF SUFFERING.  I do know what God's Word says, and I believe God's Word.  Jesus says in John 16:33, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world."  James says in James 1:2-4, "Consider it pure joy, my brother and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."  I know and believe that God loves you.  I know and believe that God has promised to save you from your sins through Jesus Christ.  I know and believe that God has promised suffering in this life as a result of sin.  I know and believe that God can and God will use the suffering to bring blessings to you and through you.  What do you believe IN THE MIDST OF SUFFERING?  Who do you believe IN THE MIDST OF SUFFERING?  What you believe and who you believe will make all the difference in your life...temporally and eternally.

The Outward Focused Life

Mark 10:42-45

42 Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.  43 Not so with you.  Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.  45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

In this world, we are tempted over and over again with status, position, and authority.  We are tempted with greatness.  We like to be on top in this world.  The world has its own ideas about what greatness is and how to obtain it.  The Bible has something to say about greatness, as well, and it is totally opposite of the world.  Jesus said in Mark 10:43, "Whoever wants to become GREAT among you must be your SERVANT." Jesus went on to say in verse 45, "For even the Son of Man did not come TO BE SERVED, but TO SERVE, and TO GIVE his life as a ransom for many."  When it comes to greatness, there is no one greater than Jesus.  His model of greatness came in the form of servanthood.  In other words, He lived the outward focused life.  He was a giver, not a taker.  He ultimately gave His life...for us!

What we see in Mark 10:42-45 is that there is a challenge in being a servant.  In our sinful nature, we look down upon servanthood.  In our sinful nature, we want to be served.  In our sinful nature, we suffer from the "Burger King Syndrome," which is "have it your way right away!"  Being a servant is challenging because we have to throw off our sinful nature and embrace Jesus' way of living...the outward focused life.  There is a cost in being a servant.  In a previous verse, Mark 10:38, Jesus said to James and John, "You don't know what you are asking.  Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?"  The cup that Jesus referenced was the cup of death.  The baptism that Jesus referenced was the baptism of suffering.  Living the outward focused life of servanthood will cost.  However, we see in the Scriptures that we are saved to serve.  In Luke 19:10, Jesus said, "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."  When you couple that statement of Jesus with what He said in Mark 10:45, we can clearly see that we are saved to serve.  When we repent of our sin and embrace Jesus as Lord and Savior, we do so in humility and in obedience.  We die to sin and to self, and we live in Jesus.  We are saved and called to live as SERVANTS in a SERVE-ME world!  My prayer today is that God will help me and enable me to live the outward focused life.  My prayer today is that God will help you and enable you to live the outward focused life.  May we embrace these truths in Scripture, and may we live these truths out loud for the world to see...for God's glory!  Amen!

Graduation Day!

Matthew 6:19-21

19 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Today is May 14, 2019.  It will be a day that I know my wife and I will always remember.  Our son Jacob will graduate tonight from Ouachita Christian School.  He has attended OCS since he was two years old.  Yep, he started early!  We have been blessed by God in so many ways.  One of God's blessings for us has been that Jacob has been impacted by so many godly men and women while attending OCS.  He has been challenged academically, athletically, and most importantly, spiritually over these past 16 years.  There have been ups and downs, as with any student and any school.  However, God has brought us to this point and to this time when we can celebrate high school graduation with our son.  

Jacob, we love you and are so very proud of the young man you have grown to be.  Our prayer as parents is that you would be who God created you to be and do what God created you to do.  Give God your whole heart.  As Solomon says in Proverbs 4:23, "Above all else, GUARD YOUR HEART, for everything you do flows from it."  As Jesus says in Matthew 6:21, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  You are God's "SPECIAL POSSESSION" and you have been created to "DECLARE THE PRAISES of Him who called you out of darkness" (2 Peter 2:9).  If you will remember these truths, believe these truths, and live these truths out loud, then there is nothing you won't be able to do for God's glory!  Go out and live your life to the full and share God's love with everyone!

We love you so much!

Mom and Dad