Breathe

As a happily married man of almost 20 years, I have seen more than my fair share of “chick flicks”.  Whether this is a confession or a simple statement of facts, I have not a clue.  Either way, every blue moon, I quote a line from one of my wife’s favorite “chick flicks” just to surprise her.  I can’t say I rack up brownie points for my efforts but it does seem to keep her off guard that I was paying attention and not napping during one of her movies.

Anyway, one of her long time favorites has Tom Hank’s living in Seattle trying to get on with his life after his wife passed away.  Why Hollywood thought this material was remotely entertaining is beyond me but they made a movie about it anyway.  And to make it even more troublesome, Tom is saddled with a bratty 8 year old son that is in “serious need of a few trips to the woodshed” (as my father would say).  Sorry, I digress….

At some point in the movie (approximately 5 ½ hours into the movie), Tom Hanks is on the phone with a radio psychologist discussing his grief process.  He explains that his daily process is to “breathe in and out”. 

At first, I chalked that cliché script up to Hollywood “chick flick” banter but after 10+ years of watching the same movie on a regular basis, I have either uncovered a shred of truth in the statement or my brain has turned to mush. 

OK, I will quit blathering and get to my point.  Have you ever felt overwhelmed and half a heartbeat from needing a valium? 

No, well, on occasion, I have, or I do. 

My point?  God knows that for my faith to grow, sometimes He has to push me outside my comfort zone and push me into waters deeper than I feel comfortable.  No one was more aware of this than the great leader of Israel, Moses. 

But Moses pleaded with the Lord, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.”

Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord?  Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.”

But Moses again pleaded, “Lord, please! Send anyone else."  Exodus 4:10-13

Exactly how can you say you have faith if you never put it to the test and always live inside your safety zone. 

Ponder the term, “Leap of Faith”. 

Do you believe that when God calls you to take a “Leap of Faith” that He allows you to continue to peddle along with your training wheels on? 

Nope, God will call on you to “get out of the box” and show that you trust Him. 

This week, God has put me in 100 situations simultaneously and I felt like I was drowning.

THAT’S when God brought Tom Hank’s quote to mind, “Breathe in and out”.  And in the Christian world, “Breathing” is synonymous with “Praying”.  So, this week, I have found myself breathing prayers and simply addressing one God given opportunity to serve at a time.  Trusting that God would keep prioritizing the work He has for me to do and empowering me to handle what He puts on my plate. 

Perhaps another good blog would be to address God giving us unlimited access to His power but refusing to unload it until we need it in serving others ~ only then giving what is needed to complete that opportunity to serve.

The Bible verse that keeps coming to mind comes from the life story of Esther.  Her husband the King issued a command for the Jews to be killed and God called on her to step up and confront the King.  God’s messenger told her that she had a choice: she could step out of her comfort zone and blindly obey what God wanted her to do ~ OR ~ she could play it safe and remain a quiet spectator.  Of course, she was warned that if she remained a quiet spectator, God would raise up someone else to take her place in doing His Work. 

I simply know in my heart that Queen Esther had a moment where she simply had to calm her heart and “breathe in and out”. 

And in that moment, deciding what she believed about God.  Did she trust Him?  Did she believe He would be there for her when she needed Him?  Would God abandon her and leave her to fight in her own strength?  “Breathe”  

“If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?”  Esther 4:14

I'm a Christian.... so now what????

I spent the morning studying for a Bible class I am teaching and found myself pushing around some very practical information that might encourage you or at least give you a direction to consider. 
There are quite a few Bible Verses for you to look up.  If you want an interesting option to this, go to:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/
there are MANY different Bible translations for you to work with. 
I use this website 100+ times per day and often use the New Living Translation. 

STAGES of SPIRITUAL GROWTH  1 John 2:12-14

STAGE #1: “newborn” (Greek: teknia) 2:12

·         “children” literally means “newborn”
·         When John used this term, he was talking to ALL Christian:
(a)   Grieved over their sin               (Matthew 5:4)
(b)   Trusted Jesus as Savior          (Acts 16:31)
(c)   Had their lives transformed     (Titus 3:5)
(d)   Obey God’s Word                      (Romans 6:17)
(e)   Show sincere love                    (1 Peter 1:22)  

STAGE #2: “strong” 2:13c & 14b (imaging a teenager stage)

·         This stage of spiritual growth moves believers from a focus on the                       
BASIC relationship with God TO a focus on accurate BIBLE Study                                         
 (Acts 17:11, 20:32, Psalm 119:9-11,)
·         Baby Christians focus mostly on their actions ~ their life pleasing God
·         Stage 2 focus’ more on rightly understanding God’s Word and obeying it
·         Stage 2 has outgrown the childish self-focused stage obsessed with personal feelings and moved into the basic struggles with a Christian worldview, a desire to know God’s Word, a desire to share God’s Word, a desire to understand and live God’s Love
(John 13:35)

STAGE 3:  “know God” 2:14c (imagine a mature parent stage)

·         God is the source of all Truth, the focus of all our worship,
the recipient of all our praise   READ:  Philippians 3:10-14
·         The most mature Saints have come full circle ~
back to a focus on their relationship with God
·         A mature Believer’s relationship with God is richer
because it is completely anchored in sound accurate Bible Teaching
*  The only way a Believer can spiritually grow from newborn children to strong teenagers 
is through the life-transforming practical application of God’s Word                             
(2 Timothy 2:15, 2 Timothy 3:16-17)

SPIRITUALLY GROW:

ONLY by reading, studying, memorizing, meditating, and obeying God’s WORD

in every situation ~  Believers can be transformed into the image of God

(2 Corinthians 3:18, Ephesians 6:17,  Colossians 3:16, 2 Peter 1:19-21)

“grow in the grace and knowledge of our  Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” 2 Peter 3:18

Monday's Bible Question

“Am I Going To Heaven?” 

I was asked about this question 3 times last week ~ so I believe it is a topic that people are thinking about.  What was interesting is that all 3  questions were asked in different settings.  One was at a funeral, one was over coffee, and one was at church. 

Confusion comes when people seek answers to life’s questions outside of God’s Eternal Word.  If you want answers on how to work on your computer, you don’t grab a BBQ cookbook.  If you want answers on how to repair a Dodge, you don’t read a TV Guide.  If you want answers on life after death ~ where do you go???? 

So in an effort to be clear and create less confusion than there already is, I am simply going to refer you to a short, simple Bible Story that sheds a great deal of light on our question. 

 

The setting is Jesus hanging on a cross.  On either side of Him was a cross with a criminal nailed to it.  You can read this story in your Bible in

Luke 23:39-43. 

 

One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed,

“So you’re the Messiah, are you?

Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too,

while you’re at it!”

But the other criminal protested,

“Don’t you fear God

even when you have been sentenced to die?

We deserve to die for our crimes,

but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.”

Then he said,

“Jesus, remember me

when you come into your Kingdom.”

And Jesus replied,

“I assure you,

today you will be with me

in paradise.”  Luke 23:39-43 NLT

What happened?

I’ll tell you what has happened,

God performed miracle in the thief's heart.
There is no other explanation.

So what can we learn from this interesting story?

#1.  The thief became very aware of God 

·        (verse 40) “Don’t you fear God?” 

#2.  The thief became very aware of his own sin

·        (verse 41) “We deserve to die for our crimes”

#3.  The thief confesses that Jesus was without sin

·        (verse 41b) “…but this man hasn’t done anything wrong”

#4.  The thief confessed that Jesus was Savior 

·        (verse 42) “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom”

Each of these 4 things is a result of God’s Spirit illuminating a lost dark heart with the Truth about Jesus. 

The other crucified criminal had no fear of God, no fear of judgment, no sense of sinfulness, no sense of justice, no sense of guilt, no desire for forgiveness, and no desire for reconciliation with God. 

Definition: “reconciliation” means to make a friend out of an enemy

 

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ

has become a new person. 

The old life is gone;

a new life has begun.” 

2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

The first evidence you see in a genuine salvation experience is a heightened awareness that God is a threat ~ literally, to fear God.

WHY?  Because God is perfect and cannot tolerate sin. 

So people that sin are God’s ENEMY.

People that sin are not welcome in Heaven. 
People that sin are without excuse. 

BUT (stay with me for 1 more minute ~ this is cool)

 “For God loved the world so much

That He gave His one and only Son,
So that everyone who believes in Him
Will not perish
(eternally be separated from God)
But will have eternal life
(in Heaven with God). 
John 3:16

God ~ the greatest lover

so loved ~ the greatest degree of love

the world ~ the greatest audience

that He gave ~ the greatest act of love

His only Son ~ the greatest sacrifice of love

that anyone ~ the greatest opportunity

who believes ~ the greatest simple act

 

in Him ~ the greatest free gift

should not perish ~ the greatest promise

but ~ the greatest difference

have ~ the greatest certainty

eternal life ~ the greatest possession

A Special Touch

September 9th, 2012, Garden Valley Community Church celebrated it's 100th year.  The ladies of the church stepped up and organized an amazing day of celebration.  It far and above surpassed my expectations.  A couple people attempted to take a head-count but stopped at 130.  Not bad for a church build to house 60.

We offered a "remote site" outside, which had both video & audio of what was going on in the sanctuary. 

The celebration was topped off with a fantastic picnic.  The work that went into this was staggering and their "labor of love" made this an exceptional day.  God was praised and hearts were turned toward heaven. 

And the good Lord offered His special touch.  We began the picnic with warm skies and sunshine, then clouds and serious thunder grumbling through the mountains, followed by more sunshine, a few sprinkles of rain, more thunder, and finished off with bright sunshine. 

Once the picnic was in full swing and everyone had plates of food to work on, a wonderful family approached me and asked if I would take a moment and officiate a memorial service for their parents.  About 10 of us stepped around behind the church into the cemetery with the 2 burial urns. 

One of our church Elders noticed me packing a shovel and followed along to see what was going on.  Once he realized we needed to put the shovel to work, Marty began to dig, occasionally pausing to offer the family words of comfort and perspective.  The family stood quietly by as each of us served as God led. 

Once the urns were placed, we joined together in quoting the 23rd Psalm.  At this point, I told the family that their parents were dear friends of my grandparents and parents.  And that I had fond memories of being at their house when I was a young child.  Not only that, but their parents were active members in the church I grew up in.  So we had many wonderful memories to share.  I was asked to read an obituary that the father had written before he passed away.  I would like to share the obituary with you:

"My Obituary
I was born of the flesh, February 19, 1914.  I was born of the Spirit in May 1955 and baptized at the Garden Valley Community Church August 7, 1955.  When this is read, don't you believe that I am dead.  I am more alive than I ever was.  I have gone up higher, far beyond the starry skies.  I have gone out of this old clay tenement into a house that is immortal, a body that death cannot touch, that sin cannot taint, a body like unto His own glorious body.  That which is born of the flesh may die, but that which is born of the Spirit will live forever.  II Corinthians 5:1-2
'Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death unto life.'
John 5:24, 'I am the resurrection and the life.  He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live, and whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die.'  (John 11:24-25) "

We concluded our memorial service by joined together in singing Amazing Grace and closing in prayer.  The grave was closed and we left the cemetery, knowing that honor and respect was properly paid to a husband and wife that faithful loved God and their family.    

I will forever fondly remember God's people gathering in celebration of our 100th anniversary as a Church, but my memory will be much sweeter because that memory is flavored by the gathering of a small family in our cemetery, honoring their parents and praising God for preparing an eternal home in Heaven for those who believe. 

NOTE:  I did not mention the families name because I was unable to contact them for permission to use their parents names. 

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled.
Trust in God, and trust also in me.
There is more than enough room
in my Father’s home.
If this were not so,
would I have told you
that I am going to prepare a place for you?
When everything is ready,
I will come and get you,
so that you will always be with me where I am.
And you know the way to where I am going.”
“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said.
“We have no idea where you are going,
so how can we know the way?”
Jesus told him,
“I am the way, the truth, and the life.
No one can come to the Father except through me."
John 14:1-6 NLT

Don't Quit

In 1972, NASA launched the exploratory space probe Pioneer 10. The satellite's primary mission was to reach Jupiter, photograph the planet and its moons, and beam data to earth about Jupiter's magnetic field, radiation belts, and atmosphere.

Scientists regarded this as a bold plan, for at that time no earth satellite had ever gone beyond Mars, and they feared the asteroid belt would destroy the satellite before it could reach its target.

But Pioneer 10 accomplished its mission and much, much more. Swinging past the giant planet in November 1973, Jupiter's immense gravity hurled Pioneer 10 at a higher rate of speed toward the edge of the solar system. At one billion miles from the sun, Pioneer 10 passed Saturn. At some two billion miles, it hurtled past Uranus; Neptune at nearly three billion miles; Pluto at almost four billion miles. By 1997, twenty-five years after its launch, Pioneer 10 was more than six billion miles from the sun.

And despite that immense distance, Pioneer 10 continued to beam back radio signals to scientists on Earth.

The most remarkable fact is that those signals emanate from an 8-watt transmitter, which radiates about as much power as a bedroom night light, and takes more than nine hours to reach Earth. (information from TIME magazine article)

The Little Satellite That Could was not qualified to do what it did.

Engineers designed Pioneer 10 with a useful life of just three years. But it kept going and going. By simple longevity, its tiny 8-watt transmitter radio accomplished more than anyone thought possible.

So it is when we offer ourselves to serve the Lord. God can work even through someone with 8-watt abilities. God cannot work, however, through someone who quits. 
                                                                   

I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things

or that I have already reached perfection.

But I press on to possess that perfection

for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.

 No, dear brothers and sisters,

I have not achieved it,

but I focus on this one thing:

Forgetting the past

and looking forward to what lies ahead,

 I press on to reach the end of the race

and receive the heavenly prize for which God,

through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

Philippians 3:12-14 NLT

Its NOT All About Me

Years ago, I had a pastor with a weekly radio program.  He would conclude every broadcast with, "And remember, be nice to everyone, because everyone is having a tough time". 

I couldn't decide if his harping on this quote was challenging or annoying.

One day I began a Google search in hopes of learning its origin. 

Some attribute this saying to Plato, others to a pastor by the name of John Watson and others to Buddha.  The list becomes long and it is clear that no one knows for sure who the author was of this most challenging quote.

Now, as a pastor, I have discovered in this quote, layers of truth that forces me to adjust my perceptions of people and how I interact with them. 

For instance, in the past, when I encountered someone that was extremely angry with me, my natural response was self defense and self preservation.  

Today, the good Lord has nudged me to consider that He is working in people's hearts, using unpleasant experiences and painful events to draw them into a healthy relationship with Him.

This forces them to make decisions that challenge their comfort zones. Often they lash out without justification, toward the pastor because (a) the pastor is human and is visible, and (b) venting anger toward God is.... well, potentially unhealthy and unnerving. 

BOTTOM LINE: God uses events, circumstances and people to provoke change, in an effort to draw & transform people into a healthy relationship with Him. 

My point?

It is imperative that I (we) develop the natural ability to view people in our lives from God's perspective (look beyond ourself). 

ASK:  "What is God doing in this person's life?" 

ASK:  "What does God want me to do to encourage this person into a more healthy understanding of Him?"

ASK:  "What does God want me to do to move this person toward a more healthy relationship with Him?"

ASK:  "Is what I am about to say, going to help or hinder this person from knowing God better?"

ASK:  "Is what I am about to do, going to help or hinder this person from seeing God more clearly?" 

ASK:  "Is my attitude & actions toward this person (which God has led into my life) pleasing to God or embarrassing to God?" 

ASK:  “What annoying, troublesome soul has the good Lord placed in your life ~ that wears you down and threatens your peace of mind?  What PURPOSE did the good Lord have in bringing this person into your life?  What ROLE does He want you to play in encouraging them into a more pure, mature, and healthy relationship with Him?” 

"be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you"  Ephesians 4:32 NLT

“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins"  Matthew 6:14-15 NLT

"So be nice to everyone -- because everyone is having a tough time" 

Did You "REBOOT" today?

This morning my iPad got a little overwhelmed and I had to "reboot" it.
 
I push the "home" button and the "off" button at the same time and it powers down.
Then I leave it powered down for a minute and fire it back up.
It has a rejuvenating affect and cleans up whatever is slowing it down and resets everything back where it belongs.
No, I have no idea what "rebooting" actually does, but I do know it is healthy for my iPad and it always works better afterward.
 
My point?
 
Everyday God has to "reboot" me to insure I am not tolerating sin, compromising with worldly desires, and that I am faithfully obeying what He has taught me in His Word.
 
"Put me on trial LORD, and cross examine me.
Test my motives and my heart.
For I am always aware of your unfailing love,
and I have lived according to Your Truth"
Psalm 26:3-4 NLT
 
Everyday you MUST "reboot" to find and any area in your life:
where I am not aware of God's unfailing love
where I am not living in obedience to God's Word
 
Our spiritual take-away is:
"Everyday I must walk closer to God and His love than I did yesterday" 
 
Our prayer for today is:
"Heavenly Father, may the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be pleasing to You (Psalm 19:14) and whatever You find that is not pleasing, feel free to take action and clean up my heart, mind and life. Amen"