The Goodness of God

We’ve been singing a newer song for a few months called, “Goodness of God.” Almost every time one of the worship leaders sings this song, I have a hard time not tearing up. I don’t know why but it makes me remember a weekend when I was 10ish years old. I had this overwhelming urge to go to “Mass” at the Catholic church my family attended. It was a mile from my house and up a hill. Sunday morning, I got up, got my church clothes on, and rode one of the “sting-ray” bikes to church. I entered the sanctuary and went right up to the front row of pews and took my place. I can still remember what today I know was God around me. My life wasn’t profoundly changed that morning. I didn’t see or hear angels. But I have looked back over the years to that day and know God was doing something in me. The chorus to the song goes like this: All my life you have been faithful All my life you have been so, so good With every breath that I am able Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God. I can look back to that day, when I first had an awareness of God’s presence and then scan through my life and see God’s work. God’s faithfulness. God’s goodness. There have been high mountains and deep valleys. There have been times of greatest joy and moments of profound sorrow. I can look back and see the goodness and faithfulness of God. His goodness was there, in every part of my journey and the journey of those I’ve walked with. King David spoke truth when he wrote, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I SHALL DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD FOREVER.” Psalms 23:6 (ESV) The Apostle Paul found strength in this truth: “This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” 2 Corinthians 4:17 (ESV) One more line from the song. “Goodness of God” grabs my heart, “Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me! Jesus, thank you for running after me for more than 50 years! You’ve been so, so, so, very GOOD!

Grief and Hope

I know I’ve written about grief and grieving at other times, but I’ve been thinking about grief again. Grief is a funny emotion. Grief has characteristics that make it unique. Everyone who walks through grief experiences it differently. For some, grief is very emotional, while for others, grief has a numbing effect. Grief isn’t just felt at the time of physical death. People experience grief over losing health, businesses, relationships, jobs, pets, homes, dreams and aspirations can all produce grief. Grief has multiple sub-feelings and mindsets that accompany it. Often swirling around grief is anger, regret, shock, and denial. As the grieving subsides, people move towards acceptance of the new reality. I have been thinking about a few different scriptures from the Apostle Paul. To the church in Thessalonica, he wrote: “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13 (ESV) Followers of Jesus grieve loss. God made people to grieve. God grieves losses, and He made us in His image so naturally people grieve. Mental health research has revealed the necessity of grieving losses and the toll failing to grieve takes on a person mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Followers of Jesus grieve, but not like those “who have no hope.” We have hope because God comforts those who turn to Him. “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NLT) We also have hope because “death,” is not an ending. Someone has rightly said, “Death is not the beginning of the end, but the end of the beginning.” Death is a move to a new chapter in a believer’s life with God. Paul also wrote, “We are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:8 (NLT) People often say to someone who’s loved one has died “I’m sorry for your loss.” Those who trust in God experience a loss, but the loved one is not “lost.” We know right where they are: “At home with the Lord.” Yet, we feel the loss, the emptiness, and the temporary disconnect. I’m telling myself, “Grieve, it’s good for you!” I’m at the same time striving to remember that buried below grief is HOPE and comfort.

Walk In The Light

The Scriptures often refer to people who have turned their backs on God, deny His existence, and reject Him as blind. A thread that runs cover to cover in the account of God’s dealing with people is that those who reject absolute truth and biblical standards of thought, speech and lifestyle are in “darkness.” The Prophet Zechariah said the Messiah would “Give light to those who sit in darkness.” Luke 1:79 (NLT) The Apostle John used similar words describing Jesus’ arrival 2,000 years ago. “God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light.” John 3:19 (NLT) Jesus spoke to the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus saying, “I am Jesus… I am sending you to the non-Jew to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light.” Acts 26:15-18 (NLT) Our modern culture describes those who no longer embrace God, absolute truth and biblical morality as “enlightened.” While it considers people who live as a disciple of Jesus in the “dark ages.” The mission of enlightened societies is to “enlighten” Jesus’ followers and the church, thus bringing them out of the “dark ages.” I find it interesting people that who “walk in the light as He Himself is in the light” are living in the “Dark Ages” while those who “love darkness more than the light” are considered “enlightened.” We live in an upside down, backwards, confused, unstable world that has drifted far from common sense! Paul describes those who reject God in the ancient world this way: “They knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools.… Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done.” Romans 1:21-28 (NLT) Media, entertainment, policy makers, activists of every sort, higher education, and sophisticated people will try to convince you that Jesus’ followers are living in the “dark ages.” Don’t believe their narrative and propaganda! Jesus taught, “Ignore them. They are blind guides leading the blind, and if one blind person guides another, they will both fall into a ditch.” Matthew 15:14 (NLT) The Apostle John told the 1st century believers: “This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:5-7 (NLT) Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 (NIV) Walk in the Light!

What Does The Passage Of Time Reveal About Your Life?

At some point, you’ve probably come across facts and figures about time. They might have meant something to you at the moment, but for most of us, they pass through our brain but don’t stick. You might have read that everyone has 10,080 minutes in a week or 8,736 hours in a year. If a person sleeps 8 hours every day, they sleep 56 hours in a week or 2,912 hours in a year! The person who keeps that sleep routine for 30 years, in those 30 years sleep 262,080 hours! Time is uncontrollable. We can’t stop it. We can’t start it. We can’t stockpile it or save it up. People often ask, “where has all the time gone?” or “Where did the years go?” Andy Stanley’s wife, Sandra, often says to young parents, “The days are long, but the years are short.” Her statement is so true. Kids and grandkids are cute little tikes, and in a flash, they are budding young adults. I’ve been thinking about some things that time reveals. Time unearths the level of our patience or impatience. Patient and impatient describe our attitude towards circumstances and time. Time and how we use it uncovers a person’s priorities and the values. Time, or passaging of time, unearths a person’s character. It is uncomplicated for people to be honest for a minute. Being honest for a day, a week, a month, a year, a decade or a lifetime is another matter and is exposed by the passing of time. The passing of time shines a light on a person’s integrity, faithfulness, diligence, work ethic, financial habits, and so much more. The Apostle Paul ordered believers to “Be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.” Ephesians 5:15-16 (NLT) In other words, “Pay attention to how you are living. Don’t be a fool. Learn to be wise. Make the most of the time you have. You won’t get any more.” What did the passing of last week, month or year reveal about your life? Are you ashamed by what has been uncovered? Is there some area that you wish you could take a mulligan on? What foolish things need changed? What wise things need to be integrated into your life? Jesus, thank you for your patience with us! Keep transforming our lives and help us make the most of our time. Amen.

Prayer Changes Me

I have been thinking more about the mystery of prayer. As I wrote last week, Jesus said, “Your Heavenly Father knows what you need before you ask,” and then directs us to pray. He knows, yet He tells me to pray. That is head scratching! One thing I’ve learned over the years of praying is that my perspective changes when I pray. The circumstances may not change, but my outlook and attitude experience a transformation. People often describe the change saying praying “lifted a weight from my shoulders,” or when I prayed, “my fear melted away.” King David wrote is Psalms “I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!” Psalms 34:4-8 (NLT) King David doesn’t describe changes in his circumstances or situation. He describes a change of heart. “He freed me from all my fears.” Those who pray “will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.” I’ve had instances and episodes where God answered very specific prayers. He has answered prayers for provision, direction, wisdom, comfort, deliverance from troubling circumstances, resolution to broken relationships, and more. I’ve also had times when I’ve “prayed without ceasing.” I’ve prayed while awake and in the middle of the night when I wish I was sleeping. I’ve prayed desperate, almost frantic prayers. I’ve prayed in the quiet of my heart and out loud, LOUDLY! God did not answer some of those prayers the way I had hoped. What will I do? I will pray and “keep on praying and not stop praying!” Prayer might not always change things, but prayer always changes ME!

Never Stop Praying

The longer I serve Jesus, the more I find myself intrigued by prayer. There is a mysterious aspect to prayer that time has not clarified for me. Jesus said the “Father knows what you need even before you ask Him! Pray like this.” Think about His statement. The Father knows what you need even before you ask, so pray! Over the 40 years in ministry, I’ve probably heard most of the “reasons” people have for praying. I could list many of them off the top of my head. They still don’t completely clarify the mystery. Through the rest of my life, I’ll probably have unanswered questions about unanswered prayers. You have them too, I know you do! Why does God come through on certain, seemingly unimportant prayers and yet seems silent on other, what seem to me desperate needs? I wish I knew. I’ve read the books on how to get your prayers answered. I’ve got a pile of books on prayer. I’ve learned from other people’s experiences, and I’ve learned from more than 40 years of praying. I have to admit, I might have more questions now than I did when I first prayed. Here’s what I do know about prayer, Jesus said: Ask and don’t stop asking, seek and don’t stop seeking, knock and don’t stop knocking,” Matthew 7:7 (NLT) and “Your heavenly Father will give good gifts to those who ask.” Matthew 7:8 (NLT) The great Apostle Paul said to “Never stop praying,” 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NLT) and “Pray about everything.” Philippians 4:6 (NLT) I might have lots of questions about praying but I know for certain that I’m told to pray, so pray, pray, pray I will. Can I encourage you to press through the mysteries surrounding prayer and pray, pray, pray? Don’t forget when you are praying to quiet yourself and listen. God’s promptings and “God thoughts” are life changing.

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!