Rest For My Soul

The Genesis account of creation details God creating a body out of dust of earth, and then breathing into the body the breath of life. When the breath of life flowed into Adam’s body, he became a “living soul.” The soul is the integration of the outer physical man and the inner man. When the outer person is hurting, the inner person hurts too. When the inner person is hurting, the outer person often experiences the effects of the inner turmoil. King David described the connection between the inner person and the body. “When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.” Psalms 32:3-4 (NLT) David was experiencing physical effects because of unconfessed sin. The connection between the body and the inner person is undeniable and unbreakable. No one can escape the cause-and-effect connection. Undealt with anger produces stress. Stress produces physical consequences like hypertension, insomnia, and digestive issues. Hypertension, insomnia and digestive problems affect a persons’s emotions, ability to process information and make healthy decisions. Physical struggles impact a person psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually. David again described the soul, the connection of the body, and inner person. “Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, ‘I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.’ And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.” Psalms 32:5 (NLT) Jesus is an expert at restoring the soul. David declared in Psalm 23, “He restores my soul.” Jesus said, “Come to Him … he will give you ‘rest for your souls.’” Jesus cares about your soul. He wants you to have a healthy soul. Keep turning to Jesus.

In Our Stormy World - Stay Anchored To The Rock

Recently, I’ve been reading the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy. The 32nd chapter includes a song God spoke to Moses. Moses was told to write the song down and teach it to the people of God. The song is about God’s power, unchanging nature, and teachings. He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is! Deuteronomy 32:4 (NLT) He is the Rock that is unmovable and unchanging. He is the Rock that does all things right. In a world and time when everything seems to be moving and changing, God is reliable because HE is a faithful God. Circumstances may change, the people surrounding you may change, the reliability of those in authority may change, but not our ROCK! The New Testament writer of the letter of Hebrews also described God as being unchangeable and reliable. “Those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. … God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.” Hebrews 6:17-19 (NLT) Notice the truths, “He would never change His mind” and “it is impossible for God to lie.” Hope in God “is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.” All of us need a “trustworthy anchor for our souls.” The stormier the weather the more trustworthy the anchor needs to be. The world is a stormy place right now and there doesn’t seem to be fair weather on the horizon. Anchor yourself to the hope of God’s character and reliability. He is a solid Rock who is perfect, just, fair and faithful.

The Storms Of Life

Regularly over the years, the weather experts have predicted high winds and stormy weather. It is not unusual, when the prediction is for high winds, that the local gas station will have cars lined up filling their tanks and others waiting in a queue to fill five gallon jugs for their generators. More often than not, the forecast misses the mark, and the storm doesn’t materialize or focus its fury somewhere else. There has been plenty of time when the wind whips up unexpectedly. The next thing you know, trees are down, roads blocked, and the power is out. Intersections with a traffic light become four-way stops and in every neighborhood, the drone of generators is heard. Anticipated storms don’t materialize, and unexpected storms blindside out of nowhere. Does that sound like life? We’ve all worried about a certain storm we think is coming our way, only to not have it materialize. Then out of nowhere a relationship turns sour, an unexpected house expense pops up to scare us, or what seemed like a minor annoyance turns out to be something serious. Storms are part of life. God never promises to calm every storm. He promises to shelter us in the storm. “Those who go to God Most High for safety will be protected by the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, ‘You are my place of safety and protection. You are my God and I trust you.’ He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you can hide. His truth will be your shield and protection. You will not fear any danger by night or an arrow during the day. You will not be afraid of diseases that come in the dark or sickness that strikes at noon.” Psalms 91:1-6 (NCV) “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you cross rivers, you will not drown. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned, nor will the flames hurt you.” Isaiah 43:2 (NCV) God goes into the water and the fire with us. He has not abandoned you because you are in the midst of a storm. He is there with you. Chuck Swindoll offers encouraging words when he writes “Nothing touches us that hasn’t first passed through the fingers of God. Nothing.” I read a great quote by Emma Hayward, an oncologist said about death. “Death is not the end. Or even the beginning of the end. It is just the the end of the beginning.” For those who trust Jesus with their past, present and future, death is not the end but the end of the beginning. Life here is the beginning of what is in store for us. “No one has ever seen this, and no one has ever heard about it. No one has ever imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NCV)

The Most Important Thing To Do Right Now

I woke up this morning thinking about the turmoil in the world. The thought crossed my mind, “The world has gone crazy.” Then my mind drifted to the various events of my lifetime and my time of pastoring. It seems the world has been crazy throughout my lifetime. From the beginning, the world has been crazy. The first murder was not a stranger jumping someone in darkness. It was a brother scheming to take the life of his sibling. Everything has been sliding downhill since then. The world situation deteriorated to when God said: “The LORD saw that the human beings on the earth were very wicked and that everything they thought about was evil. He was sorry he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.” Genesis 6:5-6 (NCV) Thousands of years later the Apostle Paul wrote: “Remember this! In the last days there will be many troubles because people will love themselves, love money, brag, and be proud. They will say evil things against others and will not obey their parents or be thankful or be the kind of people God wants. They will not love others, will refuse to forgive, will gossip, and will not control themselves. They will be cruel, will hate what is good, will turn against their friends, and will do foolish things without thinking. They will be conceited, will love pleasure instead of God, and will act as if they serve God but will not have his power.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (NCV) Paul’s description sounds pretty crazy! The craziness of the world could generate and feed fear in a person’s life. What’s a person to do? Watch non-stop news? Wring hands ceaselessly? Worry, worry, worry? Nothing that has ever happened in the world and history has ever taken God by surprise. God was not surprised when Adam and Eve disobeyed and ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden. Nor was He surprised by the continual decline of the human race. No conflict, no war, no oppressive leader, or regime has ever taken God by surprise. God is never shocked into panic. God knows. He never sleeps, never nods off, is always on duty, doesn’t change and maybe most importantly, HE cares. What’s a person to do? Pray! “I tell you to pray for all people, asking God for what they need and being thankful to him. Pray for rulers and for all who have authority so that we can have quiet and peaceful lives full of worship and respect for God. This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to know the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NCV) Notice Paul’s words – “This is good, and it pleases God our Savior.” Is anything more important at any time than to do “good and please God our Savior?” I think not! I encourage you to pray, pray, pray and then keep on praying!