Hardest For Me is Solitude!

There are many disciplines in the Christian faith that I have mastered and yet there are a few that are the toughest for me. Simple disciplines perhaps are the toughest. 

Memorizing scripture and prayer come easy for me. Bible study isn’t all that difficult for me either. I have learned a few methods of study that make it easier. 

However, solitude is what I have yet to master.

Hope is a motivator for me to learn the disciplines of the faith. As I rest in these abiding activities I am taping into hope. These disciplines provide an eternal hope through peace and relationship through Christ. 

You might think that since I spend time reading scripture and I am in prayer, but that might be acts of solitude, but I assure you that I appreciate being in a worship service with others and praying with others as preferred over solitude.

If you know me, you wouldn’t find that very surprising since I am often for social. I enjoy sitting in a restaurant or café reading and studying rather than being alone. There’s just something about the conversation as background noise that keeps me focused.

I have done personal retreats and the worst are those that include sitting alone, perhaps to journal or simply relax with no distractions is the goal, with a focus on the Lord. It is during those times that I think internally, recognizing my faults and needs.

It’s easier to keep busy! 

I can hardly sit still. I hate to wait! Even sitting in my backyard I think of things that need to be done and quickly go to aid my need to be busy. I can’t let grass growing in the patio without having to pluck it out. Weed seem to call my name! 

Maybe I have solitude all wrong but to focus on my personal worship well giving up control of everything is hardest for me.

Maybe you can relate but for now, I will just have to work at it. Luke most disciplines, it is work. 

What is your toughest spiritual discipline?

Why God Laughs!

Today I write about three main voices from Psalm 2 (and Proverbs 2)

Psalms 1:1 reads, “Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.” This is an overview and summary of most of what is written I. The Psalms.

In Psalm 2 we find in this chapter 3 main voices that are echoed. They are Kings, the Lord, and the King of Kings! This chapter is a Messianic passage of text. 

This is divided into four sections like 4 verses in a hymn… but there are three distinct voices that we here when we read this passage. 

One. This is the voice of Rebellion. (vs 1-3)

Two. This is the voice of the Righteous One. (vs 4 - 6)

Three. This is the voice of the Redeemer (& judge). (vs 6-9)

Chorus of praise for those that take refuge in Him! (Psalm 2: 10-12)

1. The Kings of the World :: The Rebellion. (Ps. 2:1-3)

Psalms 2:1 reads, “Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans? Who are these kings? 

Today we are bombarded by the many voices of the world… (As if TV & Radio weren’t enough, we hear from others in the form of Social Media; Facebook, Tick-Tock, Group Messaging systems like Remind, Slack, GroupMe, & Twitter…) … I have read a Church Sign that says; “Tweet others as you would Tweet yourself.”

Today I want to help you distinguish between those voices & listen for the great Shepherd!

This is April Fool’s Day joke. This is the arrogance and ignorance of a fallen generation. The kings of this world are rebelling against their creator! They are voices that cry out in complaint against God. They were present at the trial of Jesus when the rulers of the day (though religious) cried out “Crucify Him” speaking of Jesus. 

Acts 4:24-26

And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, “O Lord, it is You who MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM, who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said,

‘WHY DID THE GENTILES RAGE,

AND THE PEOPLES DEVISE FUTILE THINGS?

‘THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND,

AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER

AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS CHRIST.’

This is echoed in the New Testament, making is clear that is is referring to Jesus from Palms 2:2 which reads, “The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the LORD and against his anointed one.” 

This is the voice of rebellion!

The Rebellion!

2. The Lord (God) : The Righteous One! (Ps 2:4-6)

We find God’s reaction to this rebellion. The Righteous One (God) is worthy and fully justified to destroy them but instead God laughs. Psalms 2:4, “But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them.”

God laughs at their foolishness. It tells us the man’s wisdom is foolishness to God! I read a church sign once that has stuck with me. It read, “A wise man learns everyday. A fool knows everything.”

1 Corinthians 1:25 reads, “This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.”

We hate to follow rules, don’t we? The voice of rebellion wants to throw off restraint. We think we know best! But the reality is that we cannot out-think God. Like children, we are tempted to know better than the parent. 

How then should we respond to a wicked generation? We to hate and despise wicked neighbors? For this is the question that we must answer related to this text. How did God respond? We know that he is capable of judgment, and it’s within his right for sure.

Yet, in Jesus we find a different response. 

Consider Luke 9:51: 

“As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. He sent messengers ahead to a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival. But the people of the village did not welcome Jesus because he was on his way to Jerusalem. When James and John saw this, they said to Jesus, “Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them.”  Luke‬ ‭9:51-55‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Voice of the Righteous One (God) delegates His judgement to Jesus. The Son of God who takes away the sins of the world.

We see that the authority of judgement is given to Christ:

Ephesians 1:21-23 reads; 

“Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.”

We find that the voice of the Righteous One, who can destroy laughs because He knows the hope we need is found in Christ! 

3. The King of kings! : The Redeemer (Redemption).  (Ps. 2:7-9)

What joy for those that take refuge in Christ! 

Psalms 2:10-12

** Now then, you kings, act wisely! Be warned, you rulers of the earth!

**Serve the LORD with reverent fear, and rejoice with trembling.

**Submit to God’s royal son, or he will become angry, and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities— for his anger flares up in an instant.

But what joy for all who take refuge in him! 

The voice of the Redeemer can be heard, like the Great Shepherd who offers grace! 

Psalm 2:7 — “Proclaim the Lord’s Decree!”

It is in Christ that we go from no hope to the God of all hope! This Easter season is a reminder that in the life, suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ that we can find freedoms from sin and hope eternal.

Receive this hope of sins forgiven and guilt remedied in Christ.  You will find hope eternal in the resurrection of the Christ who is the voice of the redeemer! 

1. The Kings of the World :: The Rebellion.

2. The Lord (God) : The Righteous One! 

3. The King of kings! : The Redeemer (Redemption).

This Resurrection day is one for  rejoicing! We read in that sacred hour where all hope is gone… where sorrow is met with laughter! 

We can find our strength as we go from no hope to the God of all hope through Jesus Christ, our Lord! 

Can you hear him today?

Can you hear the voice of the great shepherd? 

Those that are within the sound of His voice come together because we know The Voice of The Great Shepherd’s Voice.

Between The Lines!

I do a lot of traveling in my line of work. One of the things that is essential to safety is to stay in my lane. Whether on-coming, two-lane traffic or highway, I must stay between the lines. The dangers of passing on a no passing zone is obvious. Laws are designed to keep us safe.

The Bible clear that there is a broad, and a narrow way. The broadway leads to destruction and  the narrow way leads to eternal life. (Matthew 7:13-14) This simple illustration should help us to stay “in our own lane” avoiding the dangers of the broad way. Staying in your own lane is not always easy. There are many options along the way that we can choose. Not all options have your best in mind. 

Through the wisdom of the Bible and the hope we have through Jesus Christ we can know which road is best. While Jesus spoke of being the only way to hope we can trust His plan - his road map to living.

What are the dangers of the Broadway? Which lane will help you find eternal hope? 

Nervous Chatter.

It seems as if you can put people into two categories. There are those who remain quiet and reserved and then there are the others. They are the individuals who will tell you their whole life story the very first time you meet them. 

I enjoy talking to people. There are times when I am reserved in an effort to become better acquainted with someone, asking the right questions. Yet, there are other times that I am like a nervous chatterbox. I can’t seem to help myself and talk too much.

I tell people that I don’t mind meeting and engage in conversation with strangers. It’s true that I still get nervous when I first meet someone. Sometimes the awkwardness of that first engagement means that I have to fill the gap in conversation. If I discipline myself, then I will ask more questions and stay focused on their needs resident my own. 

I’m sure you met someone like me who seems to fill the space where there should be silence. My hope is to be helpful because I think most people are quiet and reserved. I try to ease the tension of those awkward moments through conversation. A few laughs and a short story typically breaks the ice of awkward silence. At least I hope it does.

And a recent article that I wrote I talked about the importance of letting God help you. I needed that article more than anyone else because it’s a reminder of how often I forget that God is my present help in times of difficulty or need. Sometimes my relationship with the Lord has similarities. In an awkward time of silence in my prayer time, I tend to fill the silence with chatter. Might even come to the Lord with a list of request rather than waiting for his direction. I tend to tell him what I want rather than listen for what is best.

I suppose I’m like a nervous chatterbox within those awkward, silent moments and become noisy. Not necessarily in what I say, but in my own attempt to solve my own issues. Rather than waiting on the Lord for help, I tend to take matters into my own hands.

Feeling a bit convicted, going into 2023. I asked the Lord to give me one word that could guide my devotional time, as well as my need to make a list of objectives. The word that the Lord gave me is, patience. It’s a word that I feel is defined best by the phrase, “waiting on the Lord.“

It’s a profound word for me because I don’t like to wait, and I like to solve problems quickly. For me, putting a Band-Aid on a problem is enough. I want to get to the conclusion quickly and unfortunately, I believe that I want to be the hero in the drama.

I’ve wrestled with this for many years. I have struggled over the years and it is often a reoccurring theme in my life. I hold onto the hope that I am not who I once was but I’m not yet who I am yet to become! 

A friend appearing to hold up this solo 
on his own. Thank you Cindy Hall.

Even in my attempt for self improvement, I tend to quickly go to a knowledge base on my own, rather than the Word of God, depending upon the Lord. 

How about you? Do you draw your identity from what you do rather than from who God is?

Without a doubt we have similarities. Since our world is performance driven we tend to accommodate it and take to the performance.

Like the picture, we believe that we can hold up the silo all on her own!

Spring Forward

Spring is just around the corner. We notice the subtle changes. The Robin bird, rising temperatures, Spring showers, longer daylight, & trees budding…. We all welcome the life that Spring offers. It offers up a new beginning, fresh opportunities, and new life. 

 

My friend works in construction. He prefers nice weather as much of his work outside. The picture shown here is him hanging from a crane 200 feet above the ground. “I wonder, it takes an awful lot of faith to do that”, I asked him. He replied, “It is not faith but trust. Trust in the crane operator!”

We can trust in God in the same way. Faith initiates while trust provides for our action! (Hebrews 11:1) It produced hope! 

The Bible is filled with examples of hope. We hope for new life as Spring begins.  (Zachariah 10:1) Hope is produced in Christ. Like Spring, new life in Christ is available. Watch for the signs of hope eternal: Peace, patience, joy, kindness…. (Galatians 6)

 

What do you hope for? What brings you joy? How can Christ bring forth new life in you?

Love & Poetry.

Roses are red … that is the way most love stories begin. So too poetry. Many poems have been written with rhyming words. 

Yet, true love and good poetry go deeper than that.

My granddaughter surprised us once when she took hold out a family decoration. Each week we would write a verse on the board. Apparently it made an impression in her. She once secretly wrote her own verse (paraphrased for sure). “You should love and help ‘peopel’ all ways. Ellie. 3.16.”
  
The Bible tells of a love that is not conditional, rules based, or controlling. Love is the gift of sacrifice and service. We can know true love because God first loved us even enough to provide for our greatest need – grace and forgiveness. 

John 3:16-17 reminds us: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

Who do you love-unconditionally? How does it feel to be loved beyond condition? Have you received God’s love?

The God of All Hope!

We can live without a lot of things but we cannot live one day without hope! As the New Year begins remember to align priorities and put first things first.

The Bible offers hope eternal based on priorities that are aligned with God’s Will and values. (Matthew 6:33 & 1 John 4:19) Seek first His Kingdom in 2023. Discover  hope – you will not be disappointed!

I love the saying, “Live is such a way that yesterday becomes jealous.” (Unknown) As the new year is underway, consider what God has in store for you. While we do not know what the future holds, we know the One who does (God). Here are a few brief ideas. 

Pray! It is how God chooses to help us to align our will with God’s Will.  

Choose your word or your verse of the year. For me that word for 2023 is Patience - meaning waiting on God. Never be in a hurried posture but stand ready to respond to God’s plan.

Identify the top value that you want to lead by in the coming year. This value will help you stay focused. 

 What will you say NO to in order to be able to say YES to? What do you value most worth investing in?

A Special Day!

Everyone loves to receive an exclusive invitation. Parties, weddings, birthdays…we want to be a part of the festive occasion. I love parties, don’t you? The taste of food is so good and the conversations are so interesting. Some of the best opportunities happen in such happenings. 

The Bible tells of a special invitation to join God’s family. Being invited to attend a special day is both humbling and honoring. The invite means that you have been chosen as special. A feast is always prepared. Depending on the occasion the host may bring out special dishes or proper etiquette. 

It is always a unique and memorable opportunity. These special events are always exciting. I know that I always feel special when invited to join the event. 

God’s invitation is open to all but few actually RSVP. Jesus paid the entry fee so all we have to do is believe & say yes! (Romans 5:8 is the invitation & 1 John 1:9 is the  RSVP.)

Are you open to receiving a special invitation from God? How will you respond? 

Someone Listened!

When I was just a child I tried to get my parent’s attention. They were busy! They were raising 8 children. They were always working. They always had busy lives. Often I would ask my mother if I could go with her to run errands. I would often ask my mom where she was going. She seemed to always answer with the same expression, “I am going crazy!” It wasn’t until I had children of my own that I understood where she meant.

We all desire to be heard. Perhaps that is why we engage in conversation and activities with others. We all longed for more interactions with others during COVID. Isolation is why so many struggled with mental health issues. We are designed to be in relationship with others. 

During each chapter of my life I needed someone to listen especially in transitions. Going into high school, entering college, getting married, choosing my life profession, having children and many other chapters. Like you, we all need someone to listen. 

Especially as a teenager, I needed someone to listen to me. I had many questions. I needed direction. 

As I chose to head off to college and choose my life’s work and vocation, I needed to sort through my life Calling. I was not that unusual to need counsel. 

My pastor and his wife, Rev. James and Kittie Kreider were instrumental to guide me in knowing what I was good at and how I could use those abilities to choose my vocation. I was raised, in part, in the church. I spent many hours at the church. Not only to attend the church activities like youth group but I was also a custodian. I even did my internship one summer during my college years. I eventually became a pastor and was given opportunity to listen to others. 

During my vocation I was able to do youth ministry at several churches, I was able to give lead as a church planter. I became a mentor to at-risk youth. I also became a probation officers for young people. Eventually getting licensed as a foster parents to at-risk youth. I eventually was credentialed to do jail ministry and a chaplain to police officers. 

I believe that it was because someone listened to me in my time of need that I became able to also listen to others. Each of us have the opportunity to contribute to the lives of others simply by listening.

Related Research.

Generosity is Contagious

It’s that time of year again! It is a most wonderful time of the year! It is for sure a favorite time for me to serve at the Red Kettle for The Salvation Army. As I begin my new series of shifts at my local Walmart, I find that people are generous. It’s fun to interact with people and to show them true joy. 

I’ve been involved in several ministries over the last few years that require me to help find support from local communities. Each time I have been able to build relationships with very generous people. My ministry has focused on low income families, or at-risk youth and children in foster care, or serving the needs of young people everywhere as is the case with Youth for Christ I currently serve. It never ceases to amaze me how generous people are.

I believe something happens within us when we are generous. You know, the old saying that it’s more blessed to give than receive may actually be true.

Studies have shown that people are actually healthier when they are generous. According to Stephen Johnson, “Giving not only helps others, but it also rewards yourself in measurable ways, so much so that it may even increase your lifespan.” 

This research also revealed that volunteering actually makes us healthier. One research showed that seniors who volunteer will live 40% longer than those that don’t.

How generosity changes your brain - Big Think

Volunteering is cool because it offers us an opportunity to promote generosity!

I remember growing up when The Salvation Army came through for my family. People would say that they had joy in helping. Though my dad worked hard, and my mother did everything she could to provide it was still a challenge to make ends-meet.  I have a vivid memory of The Salvation Army bringing a box of food to assist us in our time of need.

I have a very soft spot in my heart for this ministry that goes above, and beyond, in the most efficient of ways. They keep overhead costs and salaries efficiently to do the most good. 

For the last seven years, I had volunteered my time with The Salvation Army as a Bell Ringer. Each year I seem to find a little more joy to give and I’m grateful for the terrific opportunity to minister to people. Just a kind word seems to cheer people up during very stressful times in their lives.

I remember when a father came out with his two young daughters. He put money in the kettle, and I gave candy to his daughters, but what one of his children said was very surprising to me. She said, “My mother died last year.“ WOW! All I could say was that I was sorry to hear that and that I would be praying for them. The dad seems to be doing well, and managing the two daughters, whom he clearly loves!

I remember another occasion when a young mom came to the kettle with her daughter. Her daughter had a jar full of coins. As she was pouring the coins into the small opening of the kettle, the mother said that they save all year to give. It was a joy for me to be there at that time to see this act of generosity. The mother said, “They (Salvation Army) came through for me when I needed them and now that I have a job I’m giving back.” 

Likely people give generously because somebody showed them the way. Someone help them when they were in need and they now have the opportunity to have another. It’s not that they have enough money now to be generous because so often it’s those who seem to have little that gives the most and the red kettle.

I believe people also are generous, because it’s a reflection of their heart. I believe that most people by design are generous. I think God put something within all of us let makes us eager to help our fellow human beings.

I believe that a simple smile or positive comment can change the outcome of giving. Last year I had my grandkids with me, helping me at the red kettle. A man came out to give and chatted with my grandson. What impressed my grandson was when the man pulled out $100 bill. He stuck it in the kettle, unaware that my grandson was watching him. Immediately my grandson commented that that was a lot of money. Well he doesn’t really know the value of money but he does know that $100 bill and buy a lot of things. When we got home, he had to brag about how he was able to get people to give up a $100 bill. 

Generosity is an infectious activity. It is passed on to others like a virus, but in a good way. As one demonstrates kindness and giving it causes others to want to do the same. I believe that’s why the red kettle is such an important reminder in our culture. It is so essential to be reminded of the importance of helping others. The red kettle is a reminder that there are people in need and each of us can do something to help.