The Lord Will Fight For You!

We have this Scripture on the walls of our hearts.  We have this Scripture on the walls of our house.  This Scripture is one of my wife's favorite Scriptures in the Bible.  I, too, love Exodus 14:14.  However, I love the entire passage found in Exodus 14.  The Israelites had experienced so many miracles from God.  God rescued them and moved them out of captivity.  God provided for them and protected all along their way.  Oh, how quickly they forgot about the miracles and the goodness of their God!

Pharaoh and the Egyptians changed their minds about the Israelites; they realized how desperately they needed the service of their former slaves.  They pursued the Israelites with all of their fighting men and all of their chariots and magnificent weaponry.  The Israelites looked in one direction and saw the mighty Egyptians coming; the Israelites looked in another direction and saw the mighty waters and waves of the Red Sea.  Exodus 14:10 says, "As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching toward them.  THEY WERE TERRIFIED and cried out to the Lord."  Then they began to complain and fuss at Moses.  Yes, the Israelites cried out to the Lord, but in this moment they did not fully surrender to and trust in the Lord.  They immediately gave way to the terror, to the fear.  What we see in the Israelites in this moment is still true for us today: If we don't truly surrender to the Lord and trust Him completely, our FEAR will lead to FUSSING.  We will fuss at the Lord, and we will fuss at our family, at our friends, and at anyone whose attention we can grab.  Our FEAR can and usually does lead to our FUSSING.

We need to be grounded in God's Word; we need to be in the Word and allow the Word to be in us.  We also need strong brothers and sisters in Christ in our lives who can tell us the truth and encourage us and challenge us.  Yes, I love Exodus 14:14, but listen to what Moses says in verse 13: "Moses answered the people, 'Do not be afraid.  Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today.  The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.'"  And then Moses says in Exodus 14:14, "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."  Some versions use the word "silent" for still, and some versions use "peace."  In others words, Moses was telling the people that they need to SILENCE their fears and their fussing.  They need to truly surrender to the Lord and trust the Lord!  Instead of focusing on the Egyptians on one side and the Red Sea on the other side, the Israelites need to focus on their God.  I love what Brandon Lake sings in his song, "Praise You Anywhere."  He sings, "Sometimes you've gotta dance through the darkness, sing through the fire, praise when it don't make sense.  Sometimes you've gotta stare down the giant, worship from the lion's den.  Sometimes you've gotta shout it from the mountain, louder in the valley, TRUSTING that He's gonna get you there.  Sometimes you've gotta welcome the wonder, wait for the answer, WORSHIP with your hands in the air."  Oh, I love that song!  In the moments when life hits hard and the mighty Egyptians face us on one side and the might Red Sea faces us on the other side, we need to cry out to the Lord but do so with TRUST!  We need to praise Him in the good places and the hard places.  We need to WORSHIP Him in the good places and the hard places.  We need to SILENCE the fear and the fussing that comes with it!  But there is more...

Exodus 14:15 says, "Then the Lord said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me?  Tell the Israelites TO MOVE ON."  Wow!  It was time to TRUST and to MOVE!  Dr. David Jeremiah says in his commentary: "The fact that Israel was facing the Red Sea posed no problem for God.  When things seem impossible, the people of God need to obediently follow Him in faith, leaving the outcome to Him."  God didn't tell Israel how He was going to fight for them; He didn't give them a detailed plan.  The Israelites had to make a choice to MOVE ON, to walk forward in faith.  Is it any different for us today?  We should cry out to the Lord, but we should also cry out with trust; and when the Lord tells us to MOVE ON, we need to MOVE ON obediently.  Lord, help me today to trust you more and more.  Help me today to be consistently prayerful but to also be consistently obedient.  Help me to silence the fears and the fussing in my life, and help me to unleash the worship and the praise and faith!  Thank You, Lord, for fighting for me!  Amen!

You Are Mine

Three of my favorite words in the Bible are found in Isaiah 43:1.  God says to His people, "YOU ARE MINE."  Actually, Isaiah 43:1-2 are my favorite verses in the Bible.  Isaiah 43:1-3 says, "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, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Saba in your stead."

As I have read the Bible, one thing is very clear to me: God is in the redeeming business!  We see God redeem His people Israel and call them by name.  He says to them, "YOU ARE MINE."  God is faithful and merciful, and it is because of His faithfulness and mercy that Israel is redeemed.  Redemption is not based on the merits of Israel; it is based on God's great love!  And God's great love is available to us today through His one and only Son, Jesus.  Redemption is a gift not just for Israel but for all mankind.  These words that were spoken to Israel in Isaiah 43 are just as powerful for us today.  We don't deserve nor can we earn God's faithfulness, mercy, grace, and love.  However, He offers it to us through our repentance of sin and faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior.  I am a child of God, and that is who I am (1 John 3:1).  I am God's special possession, and I have received His mercy (1 Peter 2:9-10).  I can say these things because of the perfect life, the sacrificial death, and the victorious resurrection of Jesus Christ!

I can also see in these passages that there will be times when the waters, the rivers, and the fires are overwhelming in my life.  There will be challenges in my life.  The challenges may come physically, financially, relationally, or even spiritually.  The challenges may come at home, at work, at church, or in the community.  However, God says to me, "I will be with you.  They will not sweep over you.  You will not be burned.  The flames will not set you ablaze."  I can rest in the promises of God.  He has called me out of darkness and into His wonderful light so that I might declare His praises to the world!  No matter what challenges I am facing today and no matter what challenges may come tomorrow, I know WHO I am, WHOSE I am, and WHY I am.  Thank You, Father, for calling me by name.  Thank You, Father, for saying to me personally, "YOU ARE MINE!" Thank You, Father, for You love, grace, and mercy in my life.  Thank You, Father, for giving me the opportunities over and over again to glorify You and to sing Your praises to the world.  Help me, Father, be who You created me to be and do what You created me to do.  Amen!

I Do Believe!

Over the past few weeks and months, I've been listening to a couple of songs over and over again.  I've been listening to Jon Reddick's song, "I Believe It."  The chorus states, "I believe in the life of Jesus.  I believe that He conquered death.  I believe in the resurrection.  I believe He's coming back again.  I believe that His Spirit's with us.  I believe that He gives us power.  I believe that He is the son of God.  I believe it; I believe it; I believe it!"  It is a powerful song.  Another one I've been listening to is the song, "Believe You Will," by Jeremy Rosado.  The chorus of that song states, "You will turn this into something good, show up right on time for me, do everything You said You would, I believe, I believe, I believe You will.  You will turn my sorrow into joy, calm the storm with just Your voice, do everything You said You would, I believe, I believe, I believe You will!

As I have been listening to and singing these songs, I cannot help but go to that passage of Scripture in Mark 9.  A man brought his son to Jesus; his son was possessed by a spirit and was suffering seizures and could not talk.  The man had asked the disciples to drive out the spirit, but they were unsuccessful.  The man turned to Jesus.  Mark 9:21-29... 21 Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?"  "From childhood," he answered.  22 "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him.  But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."  23 "'If you can'?" said Jesus.  "Everything is possible for one who believes."  24 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I DO BELIEVE; HELP ME OVERCOME MY UNBELIEF!"  25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit.  "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again."  26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out.  The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, "He's dead."  27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.  28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out?"  29 He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer."

I don't know about you, but I am a lot like that father many, many times.  I DO BELIEVE!  However, I desperately need the Lord to "HELP ME OVERCOME MY UNBELIEF!"  The father went to the right place and he found the right One to help...both him and his son.  Notice what the father said at the end of verse 22: "But if you can do anything, take pity on US and help US."  I struggle with this...daily.  I struggle in this journey of faith and belief.  I am desperate for the Lord to help me!!!  I struggle like this father; many times I am praying to the Lord, "If you can."  I love what Dr. David Jeremiah says in his commentary: "Even though the father of the afflicted boy did not have great faith, Jesus did not refuse to help.  Still, Jesus did not heal the boy immediately either; instead He drew faith out of this anguished father."  That is what I want.  I want the Lord to keep on showing me His love, His power, His grace, and His mercy.  I want the Lord to keep on growing me in the faith He has given me; I want Him to draw it out more and more, as Dr. Jeremiah says.  

One of the ways I am growing in my faith is through the study of God's Word.  I am not only reading the Bible, but I am inviting God to read me; I am inviting God to show me who He is and show me who I am.  I am desperate for God's presence and God's Word in my life.  Songs like the ones I mentioned earlier remind me that I DO BELIEVE, but they also remind me that I need the Lord's help.  I need the Lord to HELP MY UNBELIEF...every day, every week, all the time!

Wednesday in the Word - 12.20.2023

What is your PURPOSE (WHY)?

A few days ago I had a great conversation with one of my friends and fellow runners.  We talked about WHY we run (purpose).  I have had many people ask me all the time about WHY I run.  "WHY?" is a good question.  WHY and purpose are really linked together.  "Purpose," according to Merriam-Webster, means "something set up as an object or end to be attained; intention; resolution; determination."  I can tell you this: my main WHY (purpose) is found in Colossians 3:17, which says, "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."  Everything I say and do is to give the Lord glory, praise, and thanksgiving.  I also have other WHYs (purposes) when I run.  I run because I enjoy it.  I run because I have the ability and the opportunity to run.  I run for people, people who cannot run or people who have passed away, keeping their memories close to my heart.  However, all of my smaller WHYs (purposes) fall under my main WHY (purpose).  Our smaller WHYs (purposes) can be good; they can change; they can even be finalized or continuously set before us.  However, until I take my final gasp of air in this life, my main WHY (purpose) will never change and will never be fully finalized on this side of eternity...and that is OK and good.  I will keep striving to give the Lord glory, praise, and thanksgiving in my running and in my everything else.  I know WHO I am and WHOSE I am and WHY I am, and that gives me hope and strength!  Over the next 143 days, I will be training to run in the 2023 New York City Marathon.  My main WHY (purpose) is Colossians 3:17, with many other WHYs (purposes) nestled underneath...I am running to raise money for my charity, TEAM FOR KIDS...I am running for people on my heart and mind...and I am running to fulfill a dream.  Whatever you are doing, whatever you plan to do...keep your WHYs (purposes) in front of you and keep them in the right order...and go do it!

Memorial Day, May 29, 1989

Memorial Day, May 29, 1989.  It is a day etched into my heart and into my memory forever.  My dad loved the Lord; my dad loved his wife; and my dad loved his boys.  My dad loved his country, serving in the Air Force for several years.  We have always celebrated Memorial Day, a day of thankfulness and gratitude for those who served our country and gave their lives for our freedom.  On Memorial Day, May 29, 1989, I was one month away from my 16th birthday.  My dad grilled sausage, chicken, and pork chops for our family.  Later that evening, he even coached my little brother's baseball game.  Around 5:30 PM that day, we called an ambulance because my dad wasn't feeling well.  My older brother and I were helping him to the ambulance, with my mom and Marty right behind us.  He turned and looked at us and my mom, and he told us that he loved us, and he was gone.  My dad passed away that evening, and my life and the lives of all of my family changed forever.  I look back now, and I realize that it wasn't about the QUANTITY of years we had with my dad; it was about the QUALITY of years we had with him.  God is good, and God blessed us with a great man!  He was a great husband, he was a great father, and he was a great friend.  God is so, so good!  Today, I read Psalm 9:1-2 as I thought about the goodness of God and I thought about my dad.  Psalm 9:1-2 says, "I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.  I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High."  We have so much to be thankful for today, and it is because God has truly blessed us in so many ways.  Happy Memorial Day to you and to your family.  My prayer for you is that you will be filled with thankfulness and gratitude and then share it with others!

For I Know the Plans

 

Katie Beth, Katie Beth, where has the time gone?  We remember the day you were born.  We remember the day you first started school at OCS.  You have gone from your first day in Pre-K 3 class to your last day of senior year.  Today you walked those halls one more time and parked in your spot one more time.  To say that we love you and are very proud of you would be understated, but we do very much love you, and we are very much proud of you!  You are a gift from God to us, and you have blessed our lives in so many ways.  Our prayer for you is to continue walking with the Lord and trusting His plans and purposes for your life.  Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  We can't wait to see you walk across the stage to receive your high school diploma, and we can't wait to see you walk into the hope and the future that God has for you.  Make the most of every opportunity God gives you.  Enjoy each minute of each hour of each day that God gives you.  Be blessed in this life and be a blessing to others in this life.  Honor and glorify God with every word you speak and every action you take.  

We love you, Katie Beth!

Your dad, mom, brothers, and sister

Wednesday in the Word - 4.19.2023

The Tongue Also Is a Fire!

Over the past few weeks, God has really been speaking to me about the words that come out of my mouth.  I don't know about you, but it is so easy for me to say words quickly without even thinking about how they might impact those who hear.  I have been reminded by God just how powerful my words can be to others.  Proverbs 15:4 says, "The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit."  Proverbs 18:21 says, "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit."  We need to understand the truth about the muscle in our mouth - the tongue.  We need to understand the truth about the words we speak - to those we are speaking to directly and to those who are indirectly listening.  Our words have power, power of life and power of death.

James tells us in James 3 that "the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts."  He goes on to tell us that "the tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body," and he says that "no human being can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison."  In James 3:9-10, he says, "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God's likeness.  Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing.  My brothers and sisters, this should not be."  I know it sounds hopeless; it sounds like our tongues and our words are only capable of destruction and evil.  BUT GOD!  When we repent of our sin and put our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, God exchanges our heart of stone with a heart of flesh!  Ezekiel 36:26-27 says, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws."  

As Christ followers, our hope is Jesus.  Because of our faith in Jesus and because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we are empowered and enabled to be God's vessels of grace, mercy, and love...in our homes, our schools, our workplaces, our churches, and our communities.  With new hearts, we have the opportunity to speak words of life to others.  His Spirit will lead us and guide us to use words that build others up rather than tear others down.  Just as James tells us in James 3, we can't tame our on tongues; we need help, and God gives us help!  We will either embrace God or reject God; we will either accept His help or reject it.  The first part of embracing God and embracing His help is to admit our problem.  We have a heart problem.  The problem we have with the tongue and with these words of destruction pouring out of the mouth is a heart problem (see Proverbs 4:23 and Matthew 12:34-40). The next part of embracing God and embracing God's help is daily humbling ourselves before God, repenting of our sin, and allowing the Spirit of God to fill our hearts and minds.  When we are truly focused on God and focused on being God's vessel of grace, mercy, and love to others, we will see others at those "who have been made in God's likeness," and we will speak to them and treat them as such.  Over the past few weeks, I have been praying for God to forgive me and for God to fill me with His Spirit.  I have been praying for God to help me use words that build up rather than tear down...not just for those people I love or people I like but for all people, even those who mistreat me or curse me.  And, yes, I NEED HELP!  And, yes, GOD IS MY HELPER!  I am thankful for God's grace and mercy and love to me and through me.  I am thankful for the opportunities God gives me each day to use words wisely, to possess a "soothing tongue that is a tree of life!"  Lord, keep on helping me and empowering me and enabling me...for Your glory.  Amen!

Thank You for the Hard Stuff, Too!

This morning I went on another run.  I've been training for an upcoming marathon, and I have most of my runs planned out in advance with the Nike Run Club app on my watch.  One of my favorite coaches on the NRC app is Coach Bennett.  Today's run was a good one by Coach Bennett: "THANK YOU RUN."  It was a 45-minute recovery run, and Coach Bennett reminded me of how much I should be thankful for in my life.  Of course, I started off thanking God for my wife, my kids, my church family, and many other good people and good things in my life.  However, as I was running and listening, I began to think about difficult circumstances and even difficult people I've faced or am facing in my life.  I couldn't help but think about the passage in Luke 6:27-28.  Jesus said to His followers, "But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."  Jesus went on to say in Luke 6:29-31, "If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also.  If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them.  Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.  Do to others as you would have them do to you."  Jesus finishes this passage in Luke 6:35-36, by saying, "But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back.  Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.  Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."

I have to be honest with you.  This is a difficult passage for me.  It is not difficult for me to understand; Jesus is very clear with His words.  This is a difficult passage for me because it is not a natural response for me.  I don't naturally respond to difficult people, mean people, hateful and hurtful people by loving them or praying for them.  I don't naturally respond to my enemies by turning the other cheek or being kind or being merciful.  However, I am thankful for the Spirit of God.  The Spirit of God indwelling me leads and guides me to honor God with my words and with my actions.  On most days, if not each day, it is easy for me to love and to do good and to pray for my wife, my kids, my church family, and for those who treat me well.  However, even then, I can still be selfish and lack gratitude.  I can take advantage of those good relationships.  I am actually thankful for the opportunities God gives me when difficult people, even enemies, comes against me.  In those circumstances, I am reminded of how desperate I am for the Spirit of God to lead me and guide me and use me as a vessel of God's love, grace, and mercy.  I am desperate for God to help me look and live and love like Jesus when people say ugly things to me or about me, when people mistreat me.  And I am even thankful for the difficult circumstances, the hard times of life, that remind me of my desperate need for God.  I am thankful for the difficult circumstances in my life because I know that God can and will use those moments to grow me in my faith and use me for His kingdom purposes.  That is what James says in James 1:2-4, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers 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."  This morning as I ran, the roads were wet and slick.  At one point, I slid a little bit and almost tripped.  Instead of getting angry, I just said, "Thank You, God, for keeping me on my feet."  During another stretch, a car hit a water puddle and slug water all over my backside.  My natural response would have been to get mad and boil over with anger.  However, as I listened to Coach Bennett talk about being thankful, I just said out loud to my Father, "Thank You, God, for protecting me just now.  Thank You for keeping me on my feet and allowing me to run today, even in these difficult circumstances."

After a few hours of thinking and praying, I can sit here now and say to God, "Thank You for the hard stuff, too.  Thank You for giving me opportunities to experience growth and for opportunities to look and to live and to love more like Jesus.  Amen."

RESOLVED!

 RESOLVED!  "Resolved" means "to already deal with; to already reach a firm decision."  This morning I had a planned 90-minute run.  When I got up, I didn't FEEL like running.  My feet were sore; my hip was sore.  Drizzling rain was falling from the sky, and the wind was brutal!  My circumstances were out of my control, and they were not very good circumstances for me.  RESOLVED!  Last night, I looked in my journal.  At the top of the page, I had written the word "RESOLVED!"  I looked down at the week of February 26 through March 4, and I had one more run to complete: a 90-minute run.  

This morning, I hit the road.  I knew that I could not control the weather.  I knew that I could not control the minor pains in my feet and my hip.  However, I could control my mind...my attitude...my effort!  I prayed a lot.  I worshiped a lot.  For most of my run this morning, the wind never stopped. Most of the time it was pushing against my body, but a few times I turned and used the wind to my advantage.  Even more amazing was what happened around the 80-minute mark.  All of a sudden the clouds gave way to some beautiful, bright, and warn sunshine.  The wind calmed down, almost to a standstill for my last 10 minutes or so.  Just as I was thanking God during the difficult circumstances, I began thanking God during the better circumstances.  I continued to worship.

This was about my running.  This was also not about my running.  God shows me so many truths in His Word, and He shows me so many truths out here in the world.  He speaks to me in the running and with the running.  Today was just as much spiritual for me as it was physical.  I love what Daniel 1:8 says, "But Daniel RESOLVED not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked for permission not to deflie himself this way."  In other words, Daniel had already made up his mind; Daniel had already dealt with his decision; Daniel had already reached a firm decision.  He was going to honor God and glorify God no matter the circumstances.  And we, in fact, see him do that throughout the book of Daniel.  Paul says in Colossians 3:17, "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."  I needed those words today.  I needed these truths today.  And I will need these words and truths each day that God gives me on this earth.  Yes, today was about my running, and yes, today was not about my running.  I thank God for what He shows me.  I thank God for the opportunities He gives me, for the starting lines, for the finish lines, and for all the in-betweens!

God Is Love

 

"And so we KNOW and RELY on the love God has for us.  GOD IS LOVE.  Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them." - 1 John 4:16

Our first date was actually in October of 1988.  However, I asked Marty Hill to the Start Baptist Church Student Ministry "Valentine's Banquet," which was held on February 14, 1989.  That night began this incredible journey for us.  We were married on August 14, 1992, and God has truly blessed us all along the way.  LOVE.  Love is not just a word that describes God.  Actually, God is the One who defines love.  In 1 John 4, John says in verse 8, "God is love."  He says it again in verse 16, "God is love."  And John tells us in verse 16 something very important.  He says, And so we KNOW and RELY on the love God has for us."  I can tell you that I don't deserve God's love, and I certainly have not earned it.  God's love for me is based on who He is and what He has done.  And I am so thankful for that truth!  I can also tell you that I don't deserve or haven't earned the love my wife shows me and gives me either.  I believe she KNOWS and RELIES on the love God has for her, and she is a funnel of God's love to me.  And I, too, KNOW and RELY on the love God has for me so that I can be a funnel of His love to her.  John says in 1 John 4:7, "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God."  I am so thankful for my wife, for our children, for all of our family, our church, and our friends who show love and give love!  However, I am reminded in God's Word that true love comes from God because GOD IS LOVE.  It is the love of God that I treasure.  It is the love of God that allows me to love and to be loved.  I am thankful most for my Father, who first loved me and so love me that "He sent his one and only Son into the world that I might live through him" (1 John 4:9).  I am thankful to be this "jar of clay" containing this valuable "treasure" (2 Corinthians 4:7) that can be poured out in all of my earthly relationships.

Help me today, Father, to love you and to love others.  Help me not just to KNOW Your love but to RELY on Your love in all of my relationships.  Thank You, Father, for loving me and making me a vessel of Your love.  Amen!

Always At His Work!

In John 5, the religious leaders were persecuting Jesus because He was "doing these things on the Sabbath."  Jesus made it clear that He was on a mission, not to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28).  Jesus made it clear to the religious leaders of His day that He came to do the Father's work and that His Father was always working.  Jesus says in John 5:17, "My Father is ALWAYS AT HIS WORK to this very day, and I too am working."  I love this passage of Scripture, and it helps me in every area of my life.  I know that God is ALWAYS AT HIS WORK in my life, and it is always for His good purposes.  It does not mean that I will always feel good when He is working or that I will always understand when He is working.  It does not mean that I will even see His work at all times.  However, I know the truth of His Word, and His truth directs my feelings and my sight.  I know that God's purposes are always good, always right, and always eternal.  He has set eternity in my heart (Ecclesiastes 3:11).  Romans 8:28 tells me an important truth, as well, that I need to cling to and exercise in this life: "And we know that in all things GOD WORKS for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose."  Don't you love that?!?!  GOD WORKS!!!

I don't know what you are struggling with today in your life.  Maybe you are struggling with feelings of abandonment or worthlessness or hopelessness.  Maybe you are struggling at home, at school, at work, or at church.  Know this truth: God loves you, and God is ALWAYS AT HIS WORK in your life...and it is for good for those who love him and are called according to His purpose!  Cling to this truth in your life today!  Exercise this truth in your life today!

Know Him Better

What if we prayed for one another like Paul prayed for the Ephesians in Ephesians 1:15-23?  I have actually been praying for my church family this way.  I have even been praying for myself this way.  Now I am asking my brothers and sisters in Christ to pray for me this way.  There are three words that stand out to me in this passage: KNOW HIM BETTER.  Beginning in verse 16, Paul says, "I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers."  He goes on to say in verse 17, "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may KNOW HIM BETTER."  Paul's prayer for the Ephesians was that the Spirit would fill their hearts and their minds.  His prayer was for the eyes of their hearts to be enlightened and that they would know the hope of God and the power of God that was theirs in Jesus!  Paul was not satisfied in his relationship with God.  He wanted to KNOW HIM BETTER.  Paul was not satisfied for his brothers and sisters in Christ.  He wanted them to KNOW HIM BETTER.  Paul relied on the Spirit of God to stir them, to fill them, and to enlighten them.  What a powerful prayer!  I am praying like that to begin this new year - 2023!  I am praying for all believers, including myself, to KNOW HIM BETTER!  And I am asking my brothers and sisters in Christ to pray for me like this!  May God continue to reveal Himself to us...through His Word, through His Spirit, through His creation!  Amen!

 

The Light of All Mankind

 

This morning while I was in the deer stand, I had a great view of the eastern sky.  It was amazing!  The sun was coming up and peeking through the treetops and the clouds.  Light was shining through the sky and across the water on the ground.  I couldn't help but think about the Scriptures. Genesis 1:3-5 says, "And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light.  God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.  God called the light 'day,' and the darkness he called 'night.'"  God spoke a few words, and He shared His light upon the earth, and it was good!  John tell us in his letter, 1 John 1:5, "This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: GOD IS LIGHT; in him there is no darkness at all."  Think about these truths for just a moment.  God is light, and He shares His light with us.  It is His presence with us!  John 1:1-5 says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  In him was life, and that life was THE LIGHT OF ALL MANKIND.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

As we celebrate Christmas, let's celebrate Jesus.  There is no Christmas without Jesus.  Jesus is the Light of the world; He is THE LIGHT OF ALL MANKIND!  Jesus came to us; He is God's presence with us; He is Immanuel - God with us!  Jesus is not just "a" light; He is "THE" light!  Jesus came to live a perfect life, to die a sacrificial death, and to rise up out of the grave; He came to defeat sin and death once and for all!  He is our life and our light!  Thank God for Jesus!  Thank God for Christmas, the start of something new (Isaiah 43:19) and the eternal life that Jesus gives us (John 10:27-28)!  Merry Christmas everyone!!!

The Lord Is My Strength and Shield!

In two days I will run my first full marathon after months of training and preparing. It is has been one of the most challenging endeavors in my life.  I would like to say that I've enjoyed the entire process, but I can say that I have.  There have been times that I've questioned myself...questioned motives, my sanity, my resolve, my strength.  There have been times that I wanted to quit, yet here I am two days away...Sunday, November 6th, at 7:30 AM...my first full marathon.

I have learned so much about running, but I have learned so much about God and about myself.  I have prayed.  Many others have prayed.  I have listened every step of the way to the Spirit speak to me.  I have looked at all the signs God has given me on this journey.  I have been tested in every way...physically, mentally, and spiritually.  And I must say, I have truly enjoyed the testing.  I know that a faith that cannot be tested is a faith that cannot be trusted.  I love the Psalms, and I have been reading many of them along the way.  David says in Psalm 28:6-7, "Praise be to the Lord, for He has heard my cry for mercy.  The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him.  And He helps me.  My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him."

David, carried along by the Holy Spirit, tells us some important truths about the God who loves us.  God hears us when we cry out to Him, especially for MERCY.  God is our STRENGTH and our SHIELD.  We can TRUST God with all of our heart.  God HELPS us whenever and wherever we are.  And in response to these truths, David gives us a proper response: "My heart leaps for JOY, and with my song I PRAISE Him."  Am I a little anxious about the marathon?  You bet I am!  Am I doubtful about crossing the line or meeting my personal goals?  You bet I am!  However, I turn to my God who loves me, who hears me, who strengthens me, who helps me!  I have never been alone, and I am not alone now.  I am JOYFUL, and I will sing the PRAISES of my great God!  I thank my God for allowing me this opportunity.  I thank my God for the people who have been with me over these past few months (putting up with me talking about it, but encouraging me anyway).  I thank God for my wife and for my kids (they even went out of their way to bring me water many times, and they have continued to believe in me and God's plan for me).  I thank God for my church family and the many, many prayers and encouraging words.  I thank God for doctors and chiropractors, who have been given the ability and the wisdom to help me physically and mentally when I was pushing my body to the limits!  And I thank God for this incredible starting line in front of me.  My daughter Hillary passed away on November 6th, 1996, of a brain tumor when she was just over five months old.  She would have turned 26 years old back on June 10th.  Had she lived, we would have more than likely been at St. Jude's for quite some time in recovery.  God's plans for us are perfect, and God's timing is perfect.  In two days, I will remember and honor my daughter Hillary by running 26 miles 26 years after her passing, and the funds raised in this marathon will go to St. Jude's.  Oh, how my heart leaps for JOY, and, oh, how I am praising God now and will continue to praise Him all of my days!

Happy Birthday, Marty!!!

Happy birthday, Marty!!!  We love you so very much!  Thank you for being an awesome wife, an amazing mother, and a godly woman.  You are God's "special possession," and we are so thankful He gifted us with you!  You are so beautiful...inside and out!  We hope you have the best day today celebrating your birthday.  

Jeff, Francie, Jacob, Katie, and Jonah

I Take Refuge in You, Lord!

Are you anxious right now?  What worries, concerns, or anxiousness do you carry day after day after day?  If you are like me, they could be many!  We were not created to carry the weight of anxiousness, concern, or worry day after day after day.  When we are carrying the weight of anxiousness, it is difficult, if not impossible, to be who God created us to be...in our homes, our schools, our workplaces, and our communities.  So what do we do with these things that weigh us down?  We give them to God.  We trust God.  I love Psalm 31.  Listen to David's words in Psalm 31:1-8... 1 In you, Lord, I have taken REFUGE; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness.  2 Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of REFUGE, a strong fortress to save me.  3 Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.  4 Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for you are my REFUGE.  5 Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.  6 I hate those who cling to worthless idols; as for me, I trust in the Lord.  7 I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.  8 You have not given me into the hands of the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place.

David was weighed down by his "affliction" and the "anguish" in his soul.  What did he do?  He turned to God, and he trusted God!  God was David's REFUGE.  Three times David used the word "refuge" in these eight verses.  "Refuge," according to Merriam-Webster, means "a shelter or protection from danger or distress."  When you are anxious or worrisome, you can turn to God and trust God as your REFUGE.  He will be your shelter and your protection.  God can and will be your rock, your fortress, your REFUGE in times of affliction and anguish!  Turn to Him, and trust Him today!

Happy 22nd Birthday, Jacob!

Jacob, we are very proud of you!  You have filled our hearts and our home with so much joy and laughter!  We are excited to see how God continues to bless you and makes you a blessing to others.  Keep smiling big, young man, because that smile lights up the hearts of people around you!  And remember these words from Colossians that we have prayed over you for years.  Colossians 3:16-17... 16 Let the message of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.  17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

We love you, and we hope you have a great day today!  Happy 22nd Birthday, Jacob!

I Will Strengthen You

Are you facing trouble or troubles right now in your life?  I really didn't have to ask that question; I already know the answer.  The Bible tells us that we are going to face troubles in this world, all kinds of troubles.  Maybe today you are facing financial troubles, relational troubles, health troubles, or job troubles.  Maybe today you are facing a couple of these troubles or all of these troubles.  Sometimes, if not all of the time, when trouble or troubles come our way, we will be tempted to fear.  Fear can be crippling, even paralyzing.  Fear can keep us from living the way God created us to live in this world.  

I love what God tells us through the prophet Isaiah.  Isaiah 41:8-10 says, "But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend, I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you.  I said, 'You are my servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you.'  So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I WILL STRENGTHEN YOU and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous hand."

As we see throughout the Old Testament, God chose a people for Himself, a people called for a special blessing.  God chose Israel, and God blessed them and intervened for them.  Were they perfect?  Absolutely not!  Were they completely obedient, completely faithful?  Absolutely not!  However, God loved them.  God moved on behalf of His people.  God chose them; God was with them; God strengthened them; God helped them; God upheld them...in the midst of all the troubles, God was in control!  This is good news for us today...in the midst of all our troubles, God loves us.  As Christ followers, we are His people!  As Peter tells us in 1 Peter 2:9, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."  This is no longer just a call for the Israelites; it is a call to all people created in God's image.  Through repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ, we are sons and daughters of Almighty God!  What God did for Israel, as promised in Isaiah 41:8-10, God does today for you and me in Christ!  As His chosen people, God is with us; God strengthens us; God helps us; and God upholds us...in the midst of all our troubles.  God created us to live fully and eternally.  God created us to live for His glory, declaring "the praises of him who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light."  I know troubles tempt us to fear...to fear the financial hardship, to fear the relational turmoil, to fear the health concern, or to fear the job challenge.  However, as Christ followers, we fear the Lord!  The fear of the Lord leads to life; it leads to peace, and it leads to power!  Jesus tells us 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."  Praise God!  The one Who has overcome the world is the One who lives in me!  I have this peace!  I have this power!  I have Jesus!  He is my strength!  Thank You, Father, for the words You speak to me: "I will strengthen you."  I claim Your promise today, Father, not for my will and not for my glory.  I claim this promise today, Father, for Your will in my life and for Your glory from my life.  Amen.