What An Amazing Friend...

Ever feel like life is too much?

"No one knows my trouble..."

If you've said these words then read on...

About 2 millennia ago, a man wrote these words to describe a person and yet more than a person...

He... "understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do".  Some of you may recognize that phrase.  You've possibly heard it used to describe Jesus.

What is so amazing about this little phrase is that it gives us a glimpse into the heart of the man who came here from heaven and gave his life so we could have his life in us.  In Jesus' most difficult hour we see him on his knees and he is not praying pretty words of a prayer book (not that those are always bad), but instead he is pleading with the father because the road has gotten rough.

Max Lucado, one of my favorite writers, in his book Traveling Light, writes the following...

"How did Jesus endure the terror of the crucifixion?  He went first to the Father with his fears.  He modeled the words of the Psalmist "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you." (Psalm 56:3 NLT)

Do the same with yours.  Don't avoid life's Garden of Gethsemane.  Enter them.  Just don't enter them alone.  And while you are there, be honest.  Pounding the ground is permitted.  Tears are allowed.  And if you sweat blood, you won't be the first.  Do what Jesus did; open your heart.

And be specific.  Jesus was.  "Take this cup," he prayed.  Give God the number of the flight.  Tell him the length of the speech.  Share the details of the job transfer.  He has plenty of time.  He also has plenty of compassion.

He doesn't think your fears are foolish or silly.  He won't tell you to "buck up" or "get tough."  He's been where you are.  He knows how you feel.

And he knows what you need."

What an awesome idea, "he understands our weaknesses" the ancient writer says.  "He's been where you are" is Max's translation.

Both of those ideas give me a glimmer of hope this morning because yesterday was a difficult day with many things vying for my attention and energy...

Glad this morning was a reminder of HIS strength and a clear indication that MY weakness doesn't affect him.  Thank you Lord!

What a great question...

I am ashamed to admit it, but often in my life my focus turns to the negative...

I find myself looking at, not a glass half full, but a full glass and finding something to complain about...

This morning I was challenged, as I am many times when I read from one of the great writers/thinkers of our day...

Here is the question that challenged me.  "Are you so focused on what you don't have that  you are blind to what you do?"

The author of this probing question was inspired by the writings of a man who had much less than any of us and was able to write with conviction these words...  "Rejoice in the Lord always.  Again I will say, rejoice!"

Here is, as Paul Harvey used to say, "the rest of the story..."

From Max Lucado's book, "A Love Worth Giving."

"How's life? Someone asks.  And we who've been resurrected from the dead say, "Well, things could be better."  Or "Couldn't get a parking space." Or "My parents won't let me move to Hawaii."  Or "People won't leave me alone so I can finish my sermon on selfishness." ...

"Are you so focused on what you don't have that  you are blind to what you do?"

You have a ticket to heaven no thief can take,

an eternal home no divorce can break.

Every sin of your life has been cast into the sea.

Every mistake you've made is nailed to the tree.

You're blood-bought and heaven made.

A child of God - forever savesd.

So be grateful, joyful - for isn't it true?

What you don't have is much less than what you do.

 

Here is to admitting, I have more than I realize and should be trusting the Lord, through his Holy Spirit, to help me Rejoice like Paul could while imprisoned and fighting a thorn in the flesh.

 

 

Don't wallow in "I'm not" and just admit, "you are" and you have a Father, a Savior, his Spirit.  I think you and I who know Christ sound pretty rich!

 

Have a great day!



The Yelling Never Stops...

Back and forth, back and forth…  they shout as if their volume will get them heard…  but whether I like it or not, the squeaky wheel get the grease and it’s true, the louder the voices shout the more they are listened to…

If you are like me you have voices in your head too.  They may not be the medical type but they are there none the less. 

One voice is faith the other is doubt. 

The first we celebrate the second we criticize. 

I’ve asked myself, am I so “good” at this faith thing that I can be in the place of criticism when someone isn’t as “tough”, “mature” or whatever?

Please forgive me but I think a story that is relative to this thought may help you and I to clear up the questions…

You may have heard some version of the old story of the indian who said that “it’s like I have two dogs inside me, one white and good, the other black and evil.  They fight all the time.”  The little boy listening to him asked “which one wins?”  To which the older one responds “the one I feed.” 

There, now you have the whole faith thing wrapped up… or not…

If you are like me, the black dog and/or the white dog comes to stay for a while and so after time, you have to make a decision.  Now before you read any further, I am not saying doubt is just “ok”, so read on and humor me a little. 

There are places in my journey when the “white dog” seems to be on vacation, maybe even sabbatical.  I call them dark days.  My faith, though clearly placed in Christ, does not just stroll back or come running when I scream for help while the “black dog” is nipping at my toes, or in my weakest worn out situation, maybe even my nose.

What do you do when the two dogs never seem to be at the “house” of your life at the same time?  I can’t say I’ve got this all figured out, but I hope that by sharing you might find some “faith”.

We hear this verse preached, quoted and even force fed as a case for faith, “without faith it is impossible to please God”. (Hebrews 11:6)  Please, my faithful friends from days gone by, don’t tune me out yet.  If you’re new to the faith maybe you will experience what I have as your journey leads through bumpy zones of belief.

So, venture back with me a few verses and then catapult with me to the writings that follow this famous verse used to shame those of us who dare ask, “why” or “where”. 

First, let’s really say it as it is, there are no “chapters” in this original writing we call “the book” of Hebrews.  It is a letter, written to address the faith issues of the early believers.  People like you and me who find themselves wondering and if not careful, wandering.

Next, join me as we look at the “who” this portion of the letter is talking about.  We call them the “heroes of the faith” and boy are they HEROES, or something.

 Abel – Check, did what God wanted.

Enoch – Check, got to go home early, no death.

Noah – first speed bump, he had some “doubt” and “disobedience” days.  One drunk night for sure.

Abraham – me a dad, no way, Sarah, are you kidding, and oh yea, she’s my sister (that may have saved my hide)

Issac – now we’re moving into the right direction, aren’t we?

Jacob – the deceiver and the thief, that later wrestled with God.

Joseph – sold by his brothers because he was daddies favorite and couldn’t keep his mouth shut, spent time in prison and time in the palace.

Moses – murderer, stutterer, angry at the whining mob, smacking a rock that wasn’t to be trusted, kept out of the Promised Land because of disobedience.

Gideon – wasn’t sure that God was telling the truth so he feared.

Sampson – “give me that donkey jaw”, “give me a haircut”, womanizing Sampson?

Jephthah – harlot mom and then there is that daughter controversy.

David – King? YES! Adulterer? YES! Murderer? YES! After God’s heart? YES!

Something’s up here….

You see, I don’t talk about these flaws because I think myself incapable of these, I actually take heart in the fact that such flawed and doubting people were listed in the “hall of faith”.  And I say it’s a shame we push them to superhero status and only focus on the end result.  You see if you read beyond them you see others who were not as victorious, they died because of their faith.  The writer says they are as good as or even better than those listed by name.

So, I say, please, if you doubt, doubt.  But like falling down, get back up and take a look around. You never know what little trip of faith-doubt-faith may be your catapult into the world of those who face a future of pain with a wavering yet grounded faith.

If you need to see how doubt lifted the faith of some other men, take a moment and look here.

~John the Baptist, “are you the one?”

~St. Peter, the early church namesake – “don’t know him!”

~Thomas, “I’m from the show me faith club.”

Well, there we are, a bunch of words on a computer screen.  Most have been said before, some I even borrowed from someone else, yet, they still need to be repeated...  I still needed the reminder, God knows to handle my doubt, your doubt, and how to keep us in His hands…

If you need to voices to stop, you may need to change your perspective.  Jesus said, "the student isn't greater than his master", so if Satan never left him alone while he was here then we should probably change our paradigm to match our masters.  Jesus' own words were "in this world you WILL HAVE trouble, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

Here’s praying that when the black dog of doubt comes barking, try to fight off the fear, but for sure, don’t tackle him alone!

God’s grace to you today!

Thanks for taking time to share in the rambling…