Be Brave

As the time for Jesus’ capture and ultimate execution came near, He talked to the disciples about the coming trials they would face. He knew His arrest, trial, conviction, and execution were right around the corner. He wanted them to be prepared for the coming hardships. The Apostle John remembers Jesus saying: “I told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have trouble, but be brave! I have defeated the world.” John 16:33 (NCV) Jesus’ words to the disciples 2,000 years ago are just as applicable today as they were when He spoke them. Every follower of Jesus can have peace in Him even though everything around them seems to be coming apart. Jesus reminded them, and us, that in this world and life we would all experience trouble. The types of troubles people face are varied and too many to list. Jesus’ encouragement is to trust in Him. By trusting in Him we can have peace and can be brave as we face troubles. If you are not facing troubles right now, you were recently or will in the near future. Not to be a “downer” but it is true. Trust Jesus! He warned you so you could have peace. Be brave! He’s with you.

Put Your Full Trust in Jesus

Things in our world are changing so quickly that people are feeling unsettled. What used to be normal is no longer so. Every day seems to reveal something new and different. What was once “true” is no longer seen as true. Someone commented, “My kids tell me ‘That’s not how it is anymore!’ And I don’t know how to respond.” It’s like we are living in a land where someone changed the names of the streets. The on-ramps and off-ramps aren’t where they used to be, and familiar buildings are now empty and new buildings have sprung up. I want to remind you God doesn’t change. God is the same day in and day out. God does not change because “that’s not how it is anymore.” God spoke to Moses and said, “God is not man, that he should lie or … that he should change his mind.” (Numbers 23:19) God declared through the prophet Malachi “I the Lord do not change” (Malachi 3:6) and Jesus’ brother James wrote “there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17) In a changing and often unreliable world, God is reliably dependable! You may look around and wonder who you can trust. You may be like many who are wondering if there are any institutions that can be trusted. People find it almost impossible to commit when, at every turn, trust has been broken. Why would anyone commit themselves to leaders, businesses, churches, schools, governments, or movements when the landscape is pocked with immorality, unethical and untrustworthy behavior? When there are few who can be trusted, there is one who can be trusted. His name is Jesus! “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) You can put your full trust in HIM! “Jesus, I need your wisdom, peace, and guidance to navigate this crazy world! Thank you, that you can be trusted and that you’ll walk every step with me. Amen!”

Let Go Of Worry

Jesus talked to His first followers about worry and anxiety. It is obvious He spoke to them about these struggles because they were a regular part of their lives. The more I study and understand the world of Jesus’ day I can understand why worry and anxiety were common traveling partners. The average person faced life and death daily. What might be called “medical care” was primitive and mostly ineffective. The woman Jesus healed who hemorrhaged for years spent all she had “suffered a great deal from many doctors” and “spent everything she had to pay them” but she got “no better.” Taxes were squeezed out of people to finance Rome’s quest to increase power and breadth. Those in power grew wealthier, those paying the taxes became poorer. Men with religious authority and power manipulated the people for personal gain. “They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.” Matthew 23:4 (NLT) Jesus looked at the crowds of people and “had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Matthew 9:36 (NLT) Listen to Jesus “… I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?” Matthew 6:25 (NLT) “Why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.” Matthew 6:28-29 (NLT) “Don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.” Matthew 6:31-32 (NLT) As we say, “Easier said than done!” What did Ole’ Baloo say? “Forget about your worries and your strife.” Or, as the Apostle Paul wrote: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT) Take a deep breath, tell Jesus about it, then let go of it and breath in the peace He offers.

From Anxiety and Fear to Peace and Courage

Recently, a panel of medical experts recommended that all adults under 65 be screened for anxiety. The current state of mental and emotional health alarms medical and mental health experts. Troubling mental and emotional health is being played out in alcohol and substance abuse, domestic violence, and suicide. It’s not news to any of us that anxiety and fear are affecting the health of every segment of society. Dr. Jim Denison describes 2020 this way. The year 2020 “began like 1973 with impeachment, then became 1918 with a pandemic, followed by 2008 with the recession, followed by 1968 with nationwide civil unrest.” I would add a hyper polarized election cycle to the mix. Everything seems unstable and unpredictable. People are constantly thrown off balance by the shifting ground. Not only is the ground shifting, but there is little around to grab hold of. Uncertainty, tension, and fluidity of life fuels anxiety and fear. Fear and anxiety effects everyone’s sense of happiness and for most people, happiness is the top value in their lives. After all, everyone wants to be happy. Michael Horton has insightfully described the wrestle with anxiety and fear when he writes: “Perhaps all of our anxieties can be reduced to the fear of being unhappy.” Many people are not just unhappy, but they are afraid of being unhappy. Followers of Jesus do not need to live under the cloud of anxiety and fear. Jesus has called his followers out of anxiety and fear into peace and courage! Let these verses find root in your soul. Scriptures like these, when they find root, combat anxiety and fear. “The LORD is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?” Psalms 27:1 (NLT) “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT) “Don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:31-34 (NLT) I encourage you to read and meditate on these verses over and over throughout the days ahead. These truths will nourish and transform you.

Fear Not

The chaos of the world has become a powerful breeding ground for fear. I get glimpses of fear in the eyes of men, women, young people, and children. People are in fear when they are alone and when they are in groups. People are fearful of the world financial situation, loss of freedoms, war in Europe, ability to get goods, the next court ruling and the political turmoil in Washington D.C. I talk to people that have no reason to fear. Life is up and to the right. They don’t have financial worries; their health is stellar, their family is healthy and beyond functional and yet they worry about some things or everything collapsing. Out of fear, people don masks and hide from each other. The mask keeps people from revealing their true feelings, opinions, and values. Relationships never become what they should be. God regularly commands His people to not be afraid but to be strong and courageous. God desires His people to be free from fear. Fear holds people captive and keeps them from becoming who He wants them to be and living the flourishing life Jesus spoke of. Jesus said, “I came to give life--life in all its fullness.” John 10:10 (NCV) The way to live the life Jesus plans is to focus on the greatness and sovereignty of God. Put your hand in His hand. Give Him access to your heart when you are afraid. He will breathe courage into you. Your circumstances might not change, but the grip of fear on you will loosen. “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.” Psalms 23:4 (NLT) “The LORD is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?” Psalms 27:1 (NLT) “I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.” Psalms 34:4 (NLT) God is the answer to your fears. Turn everything over to Him. Spend time focusing on everything God’s Word says about fear. You’ll be encouraged and strengthened.

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!

The Lord Is Peace

I have been writing about the Hebrew names of God. The various names of God reveal God’s character and His behavior. People don’t address God by chance, they address God in line with his character and actions. Gideon, and the people of God, were under the constant stress and fear of the Midianite army. The Midianites were terrorizing the Jews with violence and plundering. Many of the Jews were hiding in seclusion in the mountains and caves around their villages. Fearful of terrorist attack, Gideon was threshing grain in a winepress, hidden from the Midianites. The angel of the Lord visited Gideon with instructions to lead the Jewish people in battle against the Midianites. The angel reminded Gideon that the Lord had been with them and delivered them throughout their history. The angel also assured him that the Lord was with him, and He would deliver His people. Gideon was beside himself with awe because of the angel and his instructions. He worshipped God and named the place “Jehovah-Shalom” – “The Lord is Peace.” This is the first time that the name Jehovah-Shalom – The Lord is Peace appeared in writing. The truth that God is Jehovah-Shalom became a constant source of strength and stability to God’s people. God is not just Jehovah-Shalom – The Lord is Peace. He is and does more than that. The Messiah, Jesus, was to be called “Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 (NLT) God promises “perfect peace” to those who trust Him and focus on Him. “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” Isaiah 26:3 (NLT) David declared: “Those who love your instructions have great peace and do not stumble.” Psalms 119:165 (NLT) The Apostle Paul gave these instructions to the believers in Philippi: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT) Life is full of turmoil, uncertainty, instability that all create stress. Jehovah-Shalom – The Lord is Peace, is the solution for the stress. The Lord is Peace – is the Prince of Peace who promises perfect peace, great peace, and peace to guard your hearts and minds. Jehovah-Shalom’s peace “exceeds anything we can understand!” So, turn your gaze towards the Prince of Peace. Focus in on Jehovah-Shalom – The Lord is Peace.

The God Who Sees Me

Studying the names of God is interesting and enlightening. You ought to think about studying God’s names in 2022. Names in the Western world, rarely describe the characteristics of a person’s nature. Ancient languages often used names to describe a person’s nature and character, whereas the English language uses adjectives to describe or elaborate on a person’s nature and character. El Roi is one of many names used for God in the Old Testament, the Hebrew Bible. El Roi is the idea “the God who sees me.” Haggar, the handmaid of Sarah and concubine of Abraham, called God El Roi. Sarah could not get pregnant, and as a solution to her barrenness, she suggested Abraham use Haggar as his concubine. (Think surrogate mother.) Having Haggar as a concubine and surrogate mother would enable Abraham to have a son. Haggar became pregnant, and Sarah became jealous. Sarah demanded that Abraham send the surrogate away. Abraham obeyed his wife. Haggar became an outcast. Her relationship with Abraham was severed, and she felt abandoned by God. God came to her and her son’s rescue. He saw her situation and provided for her. He also promised great blessing upon Haggar and her son Ishmael. God truly is “The God who sees you!” Jesus spoke about His Father as the God who sees. Jesus pointed to the flowers in the field and told them, “God sees,” so don’t worry. When Jesus taught the crowds about prayer, He told them, “The Father sees and knows what you need before you ask.” He taught His closest followers “not a single sparrow falls to the ground without the Father “seeing it,” the Father “sees” every hair on a person’s head. God sees! God sees your difficulties. God sees your needs and your wants. God sees your struggles and successes. He is not like the gods made of wood, stone, or metal that have fake eyes and mouths. Father, thank you for “seeing.” Thank you for being the God who sees every detail of my life. Knowing that you see, gives me peace and sets me free from worry. Thank you.

Control is an Illusion

“This is my Father’s World”, written by Maltbie Babcock in 1901, is a beloved hymn. The hymn declares the sovereignty of the Father over all creation. “This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears all nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.” “This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought of rocks and trees, of skies and seas – His hand the wonders wrought.” Too often people cling to the illusion of control. You realize that control is an illusion, don’t you? We don’t control, we can’t control the simplest aspects of life. The beating of a heart, breathing, digestion, healing from wounds, are all involuntary processes. Just try to stop your heartbeat, or breathing, or digestion by choosing to do so … you can’t. Jesus taught the disciples to pray “Our Father, who is in heaven.” He taught them to pray to the Father because this is the Father’s world. He also taught disciples to pray to our Father since “Your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!” Matthew 6:8 (NLT) He taught the disciples to give up worrying (I’m not very good at this one!) because “Your heavenly Father already knows your needs” and “Not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it” and “Your heavenly Father will give good gifts to those who ask Him.” Jesus’ brother James reminded disciples under his care that “Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.” James 1:17 (NLT) You have a Father who knows your name, knows the details of your life, knows your fears, knows your needs and cares! You can call upon Him, rely upon Him and rest in Him. Remember, “Control is an illusion!” Embrace the Apostle Peter’s instructions: “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)

Anxiety and Worry

Very few people travel through life without moments of worry and anxiety. Worry and anxiety are part of the human experience. If you are not a worrier, count yourself fortunate. Someone said to me recently, “If I don’t worry about these things, who’s gonna?” During Jesus’ famous “Sermon on the Mount” (Matthew 5, 6, and 7) He challenged the disciples and the crowd about worry. “So I tell you not to worry about everyday life …” and “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” and “Why worry about your clothing?” and “Why do you worry about these things?” and “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries.” Jesus’ admonitions and questions were for those that followed him physically and they are for us who follow him spiritually. The Apostle Peter knew about worry and he was familiar with Jesus’ teachings. He also knew worry was a struggle for the followers he led. In a letter, he instructed worriers to not just invite God into the circumstances that generate worry in person’s life, but to surrender or “give up” the act of worrying itself. “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT) King David wrote similar instructions in Psalm 55. “Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you.” Psalm 55:22 (NLT) David’s word burden illustrates the weight of worry. Sometimes we say, “He has the weight of the world on his shoulders.” That statement describes the weight of worry. We are told to “Give your burden,” and “Give all your worries and cares,” to God. How do we do that? You might say something like this in prayer to Jesus: “Jesus, I give you the burden, worries and cares about my son or daughter or parent or job and finances. I give you them and ask that you intervene. On top of the situation, I give you the burden and worry and care. I can’t continue to carry this weight of worry. I surrender my worry to you. You worry about it.” Then every time you pick the burden back up and start worrying, say it again. Say it over and over and over. Pray it over and over and over.

Trust in Jesus

Boy, the world is in chaos! It seemed like 2020 was a once in a lifetime year. Now 2021 is just about as crazy as 2020. In the last two months, assassins executed the President of Haiti, American troops vacated Afghanistan, and the country slipped into absolute anarchy, a 7.2 earthquake rocked Haiti and then a tropical storm unleashed an unimaginable amount of rain, fires are burning across the Western United States, Greece, France, Italy, North Africa and Turkey. Conflict rages across the world. There are few regions of the world that don’t currently have conflict. There is civil conflict in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Israel and Palestine, Libya, Ukraine, Iraq, and Iran, just to name a few. In the US and other countries, the “Delta” variant of COVID-19 is creating new levels of uncertainty, stress, and division. This past week the Governor of Washington State mandated that all public, charter and private school teachers and staff must be vaccinated by October 18, 2021. A new statewide indoor mask mandate for vaccinated and unvaccinated people takes effect Monday, August 23, 2021. What a “fun” time! I keep going back to a line written more than 3,000 years ago by King David. He wrote the song during a period of strife, conflict, and uncertainty. The circumstances differed significantly from today, the stress and struggles were similar. David wrote: “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” Psalms 20:7 (NIV) In these stressful, uncertain, divided times, I choose to put my trust in the Lord our God. He knows the beginning from the end. He knows what I should respond to and how I should respond. Things may be uncertain to me, but they are not to Him who rules over all. 3,000 years ago, if you had chariots and horses, you were more powerful than almost any foe you could face. People who had chariots and horses trusted them to overcome all enemies and obstacles. People put their trust in chariots and horses. Don’t trust in chariots. Don’t trust in horses. Trust in Jesus!

Trust in the Lord

Proverbs is a 3,000-year-old collection of truths compiled by King Solomon. The short assertions in Proverbs, describe how life often works. Proverbs, has encouraged, challenged and instructed people in every corner of the planet. One truth that has been foundational to countless generations is Proverbs 3:5-6. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) This verse has been instructional to so many because life is full of everything but “straight” paths. Life takes twists and turns, climbs and dives and at the most unexpected and inconvenient times. I’ve never experienced a season like I have the last 18 months. The path has been different continuously. The only constant has been uncertainty. Life is filled with twists, turns, lefts, rights, stops, goes, slow down, come, stay, uphill, and then downhill. My regular litany of questions goes like this: “Lord, do I go left, right or straight? Do I keep going or stop? Do I really need to stay? Climb again?” I keep going back to the same truth recorded by Solomon. The New Living Translation, which I often teach from, translates the Hebrew like this: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT) I rely heavily, exceedingly heavily, on this truth. At this point in time, it’s easy to “do not depend on your own understanding” since I have almost no understanding. “Seek his will… and he will show me which path to take.” I’m relying on that truth. Show me the path Jesus!

Are Things Going Sideways for You?

The winds of change have been blowing for months. Some days the winds are fierce, other days the winds are less intense. So much has changed in our world in recent years, and the speed of change seems to increase monthly. 2021 began with great hope. Hope the year would be different. Hope the political world would chill out, the conflict surrounding COVID-19, law enforcement, and racial tensions would decrease. People hoped for resolution surrounding relationships in countries like N. Korea, China, Russia, and Iran, Israel, Lebanon and the middle East region. Hope surfaced in many circles that vaccines would bring a new chapter in the battle against COVID and a reopening of the state, nation and world. It could be easy for people to wonder with all that is changing “who’s manning the store?” No one seems to be in charge. Life seems to be in the hands of the customer and not the store owner. Let me reassure you with a few scriptures. Though everything around is changing, it doesn’t mean there is no one manning the store. The store is not in the hands of the customers. “He who guards you never sleeps.” Psalms 121:3 (NCV) “Not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered.” Matthew 10:29-30 (NLT) “Your Father sees everything … Your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!” Matthew 6:4, 8 (NLT) “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 (NLT) “He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.” James 1:17 (NLT) Just because we may not understand the changes in life, or don’t like the changes, it doesn’t mean that no one is in charge or that things that happen are without purpose. The moments when we don’t understand, when we don’t like things, when life is hard, are when trust is most difficult to apply and yet most needed. Are things sideways for you right now? Let me encourage you to anchor to the one who never sleeps, watches over the sparrow, counts your hair, sees everything, knows what you need before you ask, never changes but is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Courage, Peace and Strength are like Adrenaline

Have you ever looked at someone going through one of life’s storms and wondered, “How can they have such peace?” or “Why haven’t they fallen apart?” God promises His followers that He will be with them in the trials and storms of life. God promises grace and peace when people need it, not before. “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” (Isaiah 43:2 NLT) “When …” not before and not in the same way after. When you go through the deep waters, rivers of difficulty or the fire of oppression, then He will be with you. We see others in deep waters, rivers of difficulty and fires of oppression, and we doubt we could respond likewise. We see others from our position on dry ground, in shallow waters, or free from fires and assume we could not respond the way others respond. NOT TRUE. If you are walking with Jesus, if you are feeding on His grace and love, if you are calling on Jesus in prayer, when you go through deep waters, difficult rivers or fires of oppression, you will experience grace and peace, courage and strength. You might not need it now, so you don’t have it. When you need it, it will be there for you. All of us have experienced a rush of adrenaline during a frightening or stressful situation. One moment our heart is beating normally and the next it is pounding in our chest. Adrenaline is pumped into the body, when it is needed. When life is calm, adrenaline is a trickle. When life is stressful, adrenaline increases to meet the need. The grace, courage, peace and strength are like adrenaline, you’ll get it when you need it! Jesus will walk with you and provide the needed grace. Trust him and do not be afraid.

Wisdom in the Middle of Trials

One of the last books in the New Testament is a letter written by Jesus’ brother James. He wrote to a group of Jesus’ followers who were experiencing the spectrum of life’s hardships. The Jesus followers had scattered to the corners of the Roman world because of ongoing conflict in Israel. The second sentence of James’ letter sets the tone for the rest of the letter. “Count it all joy, … when you meet trials of various kinds,” and “blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trials.” I don’t know about you, but I feel that “counting it all joy,” and “remaining steadfast,” are MUCH easier read about than done! There are a variety of trials addressed in the letter. Some were relationship trials such as partiality and preferential treatment. Some trials were rooted in disobedience to the principles laid out. Some had to do with the interchange between faith and “works.” Misuse of the tongue, fighting, not praying, or praying with wrong motives, jealousy, boasting about plans, and the behavior of the wealthy, round out the roster of trials. How does a Jesus follower “count it all joy” and “remain steadfast” under trials? One word – WISDOM. James encourages those who he commands to “count it all joy” and “remain steadfast” under trial to ask for WISDOM. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (James 1:5 ESV) Every one of us is “UNDER” a litany of trials. “Trial” could be the 2020 word of the year. James encourages and commands those under trial to ASK GOD FOR WISDOM. Start today, start right now, while you are reading this - ASK GOD FOR WISDOM. You might have heard me or someone else say, “Each of us is either just coming out of a trial, in the middle of a trial or headed into a trial.” That is the nature of life! ASK GOD FOR WISDOM.

Defeating Hopelessness

As I’ve been studying hope, I’ve come to see that hope and the lack of hope (hopelessness) are linked to and fed by what a person focuses on. Prisoners in the concentration camps and prisoners of war experienced and wrote about focus as a tool of hope. Their experiences and those of their fellow prisoners reveal that those who focused on the future suffered differently than those who focused on their circumstances. In the first century, a church leader wrote a letter, known through history as “Hebrews”, found in the New Testament. The letter was written to encourage a group of Hebrew followers of Jesus. This group of disciples were suffering persecution. The hardship and suffering were enticing them to denounce Jesus as the Messiah and to return to traditional Jewish practices. Their leader encouraged them: “We must never stop looking to Jesus. He is the leader of our faith, and he is the one who makes our faith complete. He suffered death on a cross. But he accepted the shame of the cross as if it were nothing because of the joy he could see waiting for him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God’s throne.” (Hebrews 12:2 ERV) The church leader encouraged the disciples to focus on Jesus. Jesus, the leader and completer of their faith. The author of the letter points to Jesus as the model of focus. Jesus “accepted the shame of the cross as if it were nothing,” because of what he could see out in front of Him. Jesus didn’t focus on the circumstances of his arrest, trial, beatings and execution. He focused on the joy waiting for him. Jesus was full of hope because of the joy he could see awaiting him on the other side of the events he was about to endure. On the other side of His arrest, trial, beatings, execution, death, and burial was the resurrection and the birth of the family of God, the church. Look beyond your trials, testing and hardships. Look beyond the instability and uncertainty of these days. Look out on the horizon. Look to Jesus. “We must never stop looking to Jesus.”

The "First Blow Against the Enemies Schemes"

2020 has been a crazy year filled with all sorts of twists, turns and “I didn’t see that coming” events. The stressors on people have left many in relationship turmoil. People feel isolated, fractured and confused. Uncertainty abounds. I have watched people avoid interactions with others in stores and community settings. As I talk with people I find them reticent to enter into conversations because of an uncertainty of where the conversation might lead. I have found myself asking the question “Is this conversation going to lead to conflict and disagreement.” If, as Jesus said, “a kingdom divided cannot stand” then one of the tactics of the enemy is to divide and conquer. The enemy hasn’t conquered yet but he’s definitely at work dividing. King Solomon warned his son to guard his heart. Obviously it was a warning to guard against giving in to temptation and corrupting influences. His warning is applicable to relationships, emotional wounds, rejections, and conflict. “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23 (NIV) Solomon’s first three words “above all else” have always grabbed my attention. Before anything else, the first thing to do, the number one priority is to “guard my heart.” John Eldredge combined Solomon’s words and the Enemy’s tactics when he wrote: “Caring for your heart is the first blow against the Enemy’s schemes.” Forgive, be generous, give the benefit of the doubt. When you take this attitude you send the “first blow against the Enemy’s schemes.” The Apostle Paul wrote, “We are not ignorant of the enemy’s schemes.” (2 Corinthians 2:11) Don’t give in to the enemy’s scheme of dividing and schisms. Don’t just be on the defense against the enemy. Go on the offense. Guard your heart, forgive, be gracious and generous. Don’t give the enemy a foothold. (Ephesians 4:27)