Memorial Day

Ecclesiastes 3
A Time for Everything 1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

On this Memorial Day 2010, we find ourselves in a time of war. As for me, I have almost forgotten what the time of peace felt like. It seems that as we bring one matter to a close, another one arises. Leadership comes in and goes out, yet the conflict continues to grow in one area or the other.

It is common now to know a young wife waiting on her husband to come home. New technology allows these women and their children to communicate more easily than days gone by. No longer do they have to wait on a letter to arrive in the mail. And yet, that digital image still can not fill the place that is being held for their loved one at home.

Still others, will find themselves remembering all that was good within their loved one who paid the ultimate sacrifice for us. Perhaps, they will read that last letter or email. They will surely spend some time visiting the graveside and thinking of what their loved one did for our great country.

Maybe someday soon, we will find ourselves in a time of peace again. I am not sure what my children should expect regarding these circumstances. I am not sure what to expect for them. I can only know to everything there is a time and purpose under heaven to which God will dictate the rest of the story. It was true when it was written, true today, and will be true tomorrow.

For today, for this season in your life, I pray comfort and peace will surround you and your loved ones. For all families that mourn their loss, I pray a renewed spirit in knowing God is the ultimate author for all seasons. For all those who miss a loved one that is too far away, I pray God will always give you the right words to speak in the few moments you have to communicate with them during this season. You are their support and I pray they always know they are loved "back home".

Father, thank You for the seasons. Thank You for your ultimate wisdom and every detail You pour into our own stories. You are the Author and the Finisher and today I ask that You give us comfort in acknowledging that. This Memorial Day, thank You for our freedoms, thank You for the sacrifices made to receive them, thank You for your ongoing protection. In Jesus Name- Amen

Fear & Obey

12 But, my child,[c] let me give you some further advice: Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out.

13 That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. 14 God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.

Ecclesiastes 12:12-14
"Despite his great sin-or perhaps because of it-Solomon may ultimately have gained the most valuable wisdom of all: a full appreciation of the emptiness of all that he had-even his own wisdom-when compared to things eternal."
(footnote The Daily Bible)

It is believed that Ecclesiastes, meaning the Preacher or the Teacher, was either written personally by King Solomon or sometime later about King Solomon.

Towards the end, it is noted that "none of the things in which man normally puts his trust for happiness and fulfillment can really achieve happiness. In the final analysis, such things as wealth, power, pleasure, popularity, and human wisdom are all sheer vanity-meaningless and empty." (footnote--The Daily Bible)

After several chapters of observations and insight from the teacher's experiences regarding life, death, love, work, knowledge, etc., we end up at verses 12-14 of Chapter 12 above. In the end, in spite of his great wisdom, the author concludes that too much studying can wear you out. There will always be books and more books. There will always be more to learn. It is a wonderful thing to seek to understand things in this life as well as to understand God's ways. We should always strive to better ourselves. Yet, regardless of how much knowledge we can obtain, it all comes down to verses 13 & 14. If you have much knowledge or a little, if you are rich or poor, God will judge us for everything in the end. He will judge us for everything we have done, all the secret things that nobody else knows, all of it. When all is complete, the greatest thing we could have done in our lifetime is to fear and obey God. In other words, above all, seek to have great reverence for the Lord and follow His commandments. If we can do that, the rest will fall into place according to His will.

'Til Death Do You Part

"For a prostitute will bring you to poverty, but sleeping with another man's wife will cost you your life."  (Proverbs 6: 26, NLT)

Millions of dollars have been spent on pornography, prostitutes and the like.  Thousands of lives have been changed due to adulterous affairs.  Spouses are devastated.  Children are scarred.  And, there will be those who truly believe they are not hurting anyone.  Is there really a "secret sin"?

Having an affair may not cost you your physical life, but it could.  There are numerous cases where jealous spouses go into a rage, killing their partner or the "other" person.  But, having an affair could cost you your marriage, your family, maybe even your career.  You could contract a sexually transmitted disease,  or possibly have an unwanted pregnancy. But, "life" as you know it will change, and it will cost you something. 

Is it no wonder that "Thou shalt not commit adultery" was listed as one of the Ten Commandments?  God knew the sacredness of the marriage bed.  He knew the consequences that could occur as a result of unwise choices. Satan would like nothing more than for the family unit to be torn apart. 

Those vows were not just some fancy words you had to repeat in order to marry the person you love.  Those vows were a lifetime commitment---until death you do part.  God doesn't want your life ending prematurely as a result of the poor choices you have made.  He wants to bring restoration to marriages.  He wants to heal the brokenhearted.  Keep the commitment to your spouse.  Keep your commitment to God.

Trust in the Lord

Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding; in all of your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths!”

I have heard it said, “Unbelief puts circumstances between us and God. But faith puts God between us and our circumstances.” That is a life changing statement, but it’s not always easy to walk by faith! However, in this walk with Christ, faith has got to be your compass. Why? The answer is simply because seasons change. Relationships change. Circumstances change. Goals change. Faith should never change. And like a compass, faith always points to the magnetic north! It is our faith in Christ and hope of His glory that keeps us pushing forward!

This past Easter, I was driving home to spend the day with my family. It seems every time I pass through my hometown, I am immediately flooded with all kinds of memories. This time I giggled to myself and thought, “Wow! It’s funny how life and time changes everything!” Take a look back throughout your life. I believe we all could say, “Everything seems so different in my life, and it is time, circumstances, and relationships that have all changed.” Yet, there is one thing that remains---faith in Jesus Christ. We may not always know where we are going, or how we are gonna get there, but we have hope! Whether the past is filled with good memories or bad memories, faith will carry us on. J.G. Holland, former Prime Minister of New Zealand said, “Faith draws the poison from every grief, takes the sting from every loss, and quenches the fire of every pain, and only faith can do it!”

In our walk with Christ, we will encounter many life changing decisions, but it's time we walk by faith, allowing God to be between us and our circumstances! How do I get faith? Romans 10:17 teaches, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God! Get into the word of God, hear His voice, and you will find your faith growing stronger and stronger! A Matthew 17:20 kind of faith, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, move from here to there; and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you!” The Lord is teaching me more and more the promise of Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding; in all of your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths!”

Mr. "Know-It-All"

"God gave Solomon very great wisdom and understanding, and knowledge as vast as the sands of the seashore."  (1 Kings 4: 29, NLT)

Oh, you know who I'm talking about.  We've all met one.  It's the person that will talk or give their opinion on any subject, regardless of what it is.  They know more; they've done more.  It's the person who thinks they know it all.  Or, at least that's the impression they want to leave. 

King Solomon was one who had knowledge above the average person, due to the wisdom that God had imparted to him.  1 Kings 4 states, "He could speak about all kinds of plants, from the great cedar of Lebanon to the tiny hyssop that grows from cracks in a wall.  He could also speak about animals, birds, small creatures, and fish".  And, not only could he speak on any subject, Solomon spoke with authority.  That meant he was confident about his information.  

Teaching others what we know can be a wonderful and useful gift.  Sharing our experiences and wisdom with them may help with their current life situations.  However, do not become "puffed up" because of your knowledge.  Making a person feel stupid will not allow you to appear smarter! 

Seeing is Believing!

The queen of Sheba hears of Solomon's fame and his relationship with the Lord.  So, she decides to go see for herself if he was really as wise and wealthy as she had heard.  She, along with a large group of attendants and a great caravan of camels, take off for Jerusalem with spices, large quantities of gold, and precious jewels in tow.  When the queen meets with Solomon, she talks with him about everything she has on her mind.  Some believe the queen may have used riddles or proverbs to test his wisdom.  But, Solomon was able to answer all her questions. "When the queen of Sheba realized how wise Solomon was, and when she saw the palace he had built, she was overwhelmed."  (2 Chronicles 9: 3-4a) 

"She exclaimed to the king, 'Everything I heard in my country about your achievements and wisdom is true!  I didn’t believe what was said until I arrived here and saw it with my own eyes'."  (vs. 5-6a)  Now, isn't that just like a woman.  She wouldn't take other people's word for it---she had to see it for herself. :)  I'm sure the queen was amazed.  I know I would have been!  After verifying the reports of Solomon's greatness for herself, she became an admirer of Solomon and his God. 

"Testing others is sometimes necessary, especially if reports of their achievement seem incredible or unbelievable.  We should test their claims to see if (1) the reports are accurate and if (2) they are from God.  Often when something seems too good to be true, it is!"  (footnote from Life Recovery Bible)

Busy

1 Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.
2 In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves. Psalms 127:1-2

We tend to spend a lot of our time toiling and worrying over getting the next big task completed. How much do we sacrifice everyday just to climb another mountain? Then, when we get there, we simply start climbing another one. There is nothing we can set out to do in this world that is worth doing unless the Lord is in it with us. Likewise, if the Lord is in it with us, then we don't have to work ourselves to death trying to make it happen. Everything we do in this life is done in vain without the Lord. With the Lord, there is no need for us to keep doing His part. "For He grants sleep to those He loves"....rest in the Lord, give Him your tasks and know He has it all under control. Let your mind rest. Let your body rest. Do only what the Lord asks of you in this life and leave the rest to Him. He will never ask you to do too much or too little. He will never leave a task that He has blessed incomplete. Trust Him in all His wisdom and all His ways to do everything that needs to be done in His timing and forget about everything else.

A Gentle Response

A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire. Proverbs 15:1

It has just been a few weeks ago that I wrote as my facebook status, "I am learning more and more everyday the value of Proverbs 15:1." You see, there is a coworker whom I have always had a difficult time keeping peace with. That day, I had taken what was a direct confrontation and turned it around by saying, "I don't understand what you are saying.  Would you show me?" The rest of the conversation went very smoothly. The person expected me to reply with the reasons why what I was doing was correct and what they were doing was incorrect. Taking time to understand why they were so passionate about what they were saying defused the situation.

I can't take credit for this lesson. I suppose God is the ultimate person to take credit for this lesson. However, in my time as a member of the Lead Team at our church, Pastor Eric has been gracious enough to correct me from time to time. There have been times when he has informed me that the result of my situation may have turned out better had I spoken a little softer, approached it a little gentler, and taken the high road.

You see, I come from a long line of blunt people, and I am accustomed to just saying what I am thinking and expecting things to hash out from there. This is a terrible way to approach people when you are approaching them as a Christian. It simply doesn't work out very well, very often.

Over time, I have watched the softer approach bring many blessings. I have seen it heal broken roads with people that someone before me had destroyed. I have seen it bring blessings to the church that we wouldn't have gotten otherwise because God moved someone's heart to help us. I have seen it clear up misunderstandings and shape the direction of an event. I have even seen it change circumstances in my own marriage. Kind words can do more for a situation than money or influence on any given day.

Now, I'm a stubborn soul. It took me a long while to succumb to the fact that this truly was best. Do you know why it is so difficult? It is difficult because taming your words requires discipline. If you have a temper, as I do, it takes even more discipline. It requires putting forethought into what you say rather than just letting it come out in whatever form that it does. It requires praying about how to handle a situation before you do anything. It simply requires more work on our part to approach things in this manner.

As I am sure somebody will watch me now to see if I follow my own advice, I'll say that I still have to work on it at times. I have learned the great value of this approach though, and I know it is worth it to keep striving to master it. It isn't the easy road, but it's the better road.

"Father, help us today to tame our own tongues. Help us to take the high road, to speak softly, to think before we speak, to respond in a manner pleasing to You, in every situation we face today. Help us to understand that the good seed we plant today will bear good fruit tomorrow. In Jesus Name-Amen"

Words of Wisdom

When I was young, my mother had an old Bible with pictures in the center and throughout the text.  One of those pictures was like the one seen here.  I remember asking her what that picture was all about, and her telling me.  Inquisitive minds wanted to know!  The following is a paraphrase of that story (1 Kings 3: 16-28):

"Two prostitutes came to King Solomon, wanting an argument to be settled.  The two women lived in the same house, and they each had a baby, three days apart.  One of the babies died during the night, so his mother took the dead child, and placed him in the bed with the other woman.  She then took the living child to her own bed.  They argued back and forth in front of the king, each claiming that the living child was her own.  Finally, the king asked for a sword to be brought to him.  He said, 'Cut the living child in two and give half to each of these women.'  Then the woman who was really the mother of the living child cries out, 'Oh, no my lord!  Give her the child---please do not kill him!"  But, the other woman said, 'All right, he will be neither yours nor mine; divide him between us!'  (vs. 25-26, NLT).  Then, the king knew who the real mother was and spared the baby's life."

Just prior to this event, Solomon had asked God for wisdom, and God granted his request.  "God gave him a wise and understanding mind, such as no one else has ever had or ever will have" (vs. 12).  The people were awed when they realized the great wisdom God had given Solomon, to be able to render decisions with justice.  Just like with King Solomon, it's important for our leaders to have wisdom and discernment regarding life's situations.  May we pray regularly for those in authority.   

God, may we seek your wisdom and put it into action.  Teach our leaders to seek your guidance, first and foremost, instead of just going by man's advice.  Give us discernment in our daily walk with you.  Amen! 

How He Loves Us

This journey with Christ is sometimes described as a roller coaster ride. As a teenager, my life seemed like I would run after God for a while, only to fade back into the same ole junk that I had been forgiven of. I believe the biggest issue is, because when we make up our minds to serve God, it seems like no one else is. I will tell you this from past and present experience, and it will be true in the future. When you are diligently running after Christ, it can get lonely sometimes. I believe that’s why many of us run back to our old habits, wrong crowds, wrong relationships, because we cannot handle loneliness! You need to face the fact, that the truth of the matter is, you are never alone…He is always there!

Currently in my life, running after God and serving in ministry, sometimes it still seems like this can be a roller coaster ride. It doesn’t always have to be sin that makes it seem like we are coasting down hill. Our life may seem as if all is well with God, but situations arise and we have to stop, pray, and evaluate out heart. We have to check our motives and evaluate decisions we are making. Do we do the things we do truly for God, to experience Him, to bless Him and to bless people?  Or, do we do good deeds for ourselves just to make ourself feel better? Listen, Jeremiah 17:10 proclaims, “I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” 1 Chronicles 28:9 also teaches us, “For the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of thoughts.” I believe it is safe to say, that no matter how much we try to justify what we do, God sees and knows the true intentions of our hearts.

Song of Songs 2:15-16, “Catch for us the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom. My lover is mine and I am His.” Circumstances will arise in our life, and we will realize that there may still be some areas in our hearts that are not right! These distractions and hindrances are the little foxes that are trying to spoil the vine. Slowly they try to eat away and tear you down to nothing. We do our best to live righteously, then the Lord reveals some issues in our hearts and it hurts. We want to put ourselves down, beat ourselves up, and the enemy will grasp hold of these emotions and keep us feeling unworthy! I want you to know that you are growing! Maybe the Lord was testing your heart and you failed, and you do feel unworthy.  Remember, failure is not always a bad thing as long as you learn a lesson from it! So do better next time!

In Revelation 3:19, Jesus says, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore, be zealous and repent!” He chastises all whom He loves. Remember when you were a child, and you were out of line, and your parents had to spank that tail! Just because they were disappointed and frustrated with your behavior, that didn’t change their love for you! It is the same way with Christ.  He loves you, and He is disciplining you so that you may be more like Him, falling more in love with Him! There will be times when the little foxes of hindrance and distraction invade your life! When they do, don’t worry.  Go on to the next verse because His word says, “My Lover is mine and I am His.” God is yours, and you are His---nothing else matters!

Pray Wisely

"So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between the right and wrong." 1 Kings 3:9

"Wise men talk because they have something to say, fools, because they have to say something." Plato

More than anything I could ask from God, my prayer today is that made by Solomon. Even Solomon's prayer was wise. He understood his weakness, thus asked for strength in that area. One question he asked God was this, "For who is able to govern this great people of yours?" I wonder if he had looked back on the life of Moses? Maybe he realized that even Moses struggled to lead God's people and Solomon needed to seek wisdom. 1 Corinthians 12:31 directs us to "earnestly desire the best gifts." If our earthly father desires to give us good gifts how much more does our Heavenly Father desire to bestow the best gifts upon His children. Today, if you are seeking God, be specific in your prayer.

God, we humble ourselves before You today. We ask that you would remove old things from our lives and replace them with the new! We desire to live a full life in You...help us to seek after the best gifts! Give us wisdom, understanding and discernment. When we speak, we want to have something to say--to help a generation that is lost! Thank you for your unfailing love and grace, in Jesus name, AMEN!

What's Your Calling?

"He (God) chose his servant David,

calling him from the sheep pens.

 He took David from tending the ewes and lambs

and made him the shepherd of Jacob’s descendants—

God’s own people, Israel.

 He cared for them with a true heart

and led them with skillful hands."

(Psalm 78:  70-72)

David was a shepherd boy in his father's fields, long before he became king.  He was content, playing his harp and tending the sheep. 1 Samuel 16 gives the account of when David was anointed to, one day, become king over Israel.  But, in the meantime, David was called into King Saul's service and became an armor bearer. Saul was being tormented by evil spirits, so David would play his harp in order for Saul to feel better.

I remember in my own life, at the young age of nine, I liked to read the obituary column, wondering what caused these people to die. (I was a strange kid---lol). Then, I went on to become a funeral director by the age of 20. I also remember painting my parents' bathroom and porch swing when I was about 15 yrs. old. How could I have known that one day I would be painting, helping to prepare a new building for the house of the Lord? I can look back and remember having an interest in legal matters and decorating, and wondering if I would pursue a career as a lawyer or interior decorator. I had a lot of interests. But, I had to decide what was my heart's passion---where did I feel God really calling me.

We may look at our talents and wonder why we have them.  Is it just for our enjoyment?  We may have certain interests or hobbies, and really not give much thought as to a future destiny or plan where they may somehow be used.  God sees the overall picture.  "He knows the plans He has for you" (Jeremiah 29:11).  In order for us to get to where we are going, we need to be prepared.  Just like when David played his harp at a young age, he had no way of knowing that he would one day be playing for a king in a palace.  He didn't know that tending his father's sheep would prepare him for the day that he would be tending a large flock of people, as king over Israel.  And, since David was faithful in his servanthood to his earthly father, God found David suitable to become a servant to Him, his heavenly Father.
 
God, may I use my skills and talents to the best of my ability.  May I become all that you have created me to be.  Amen! 

A Simple Act

Like a cool drink of water when you're worn out and weary
is a letter from a long-lost friend. Proverbs 25:25

I have felt for a long time now that when someone comes to your mind, there is a reason for it. I feel that the Holy Spirit can speak a name to you out of the blue. When this happens to me, I will most often pray for that person. Sometimes, this is a person that I haven't thought of or seen in years. Other times, it could be someone that I see everyday. If I haven't seen them in a while, I may not have any idea what their needs are. Still, I know I can whisper a prayer for them, and God will know their needs.

There are also times when I feel strongly that I need to contact this person. I must say that the new social networking tools have made this much easier than it used to be. I can remember trying to find phone numbers or addresses of long lost friends, back before facebook. I would search for them so I could write them a letter. Remember letters? Those are the things people used to write with a pen and paper. Then, you had to buy a stamp and place them in the actual mailbox. Today, we can just send an email or we can just start a chat on facebook. Either way, when this happens I usually find that the person appreciates the contact.

Everyone wants to know someone else is thinking about them from time to time. Many times, a letter, email, or a card from an old friend has made my day. I guess it makes me think, that at some point, I must have made an impression in their life. At some point, I was placed in their heart so they could pull the memory out occasionally and maybe send me a few lines of encouragement.

Don't underestimate how the Holy Spirit can work in your life. If you feel a nudge to contact someone or pray for someone, do it. You never know what they may be going through at the moment. Your simple act of kindness may just make their day.

As We Enter In . . . .

¹ It took Solomon thirteen years, however, to complete the construction of his palace. 1 Kings 7:1

This chapter goes on to explain with detail every inch of Solomon's palace. I don't think it was a coincidence that a coworker gave me a replica of Solomon's palace at the time the Lead Team began discussing and praying about the new church building. She had no idea this was in discussion. Since that time, it has served as a symbol to me of the vision for 3trees Church and a place to house the harvest.

¹ When Solomon had finished building the temple of the LORD and the royal palace, and had achieved all he had desired to do, ² the LORD appeared to him a second time, as he had appeared to him at Gibeon. ³ The LORD said to him:
"I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there. 1 Kings 9:1

⁶ "But if you or your sons turn away from me and do not observe the commands and decrees I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, ⁷ then I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name.
1 Kings 9:6-7

After the temple had been built exactly as planned, the Lord approached Solomon and made a covenant with him. He would bless this temple, and He would put his Name there forever. However, this came with a stipulation: if his sons turned away from God, He would reject the temple.

A couple of years ago, I took a prayer walk on the grounds of our church. I feel like the Lord showed me a vision of what was to become of all the land we currently own. It doesn't matter if it was exact or if it was just a taste of greater things to come. What I remember most about it was what God said at the end. In summary, God said that the church would be blessed with all of these things only if we continued to seek Him first. If we began to put anything else first, if we looked away from Him, if we didn't follow Him, then we would have none of it.

Our church is almost complete. It has been built with great attention to detail and excellence. It has also been built with a tremendous amount of prayer and fasting. It is almost time for us to enter and dwell in this place. It is almost time to invite the harvest to come in with us. As we move forward, may we always remember God built it and God can tear it down. We must always remember to keep Him first in our ministry and in our lives, no matter what is going on around us.

Father, Help us to always remember You are the reason for everything we have been blessed with. Help us to always look to you and put you first in every decision we make. When leadership is faced with more than one path, speak to them clearly so that they always know which one you have blessed. Give the people strength and wisdom to always put you first in their lives so that the harvest will see everything is about You. -Amen

House of the Lord

"I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the Lord' ".    (Psalm 122: 1, NLT)

I have heard our pastor and others say, "When I was younger, I had a drug problem.  I was 'drug' to church."   And, there is truth in that.  Their parents would have made them go to church, even though they did not want to go at that time.  I'm sure they would have preferred to have been outside, playing sports, spending time with their friends---anything, but sitting in a church, listening to another sermon. 

Do you wake up on Sunday mornings, delighted to know this is the day the Lord has made, and you're going to be able to go worship Him in his house? Or, do you awaken thinking you would really like to be out on the lake, in the boat, rather than 'having' to go to church? What is your attitude towards corporate worship? Is it a chore or a delight?

David was glad when he was able to worship in the Lord's house.  He had a close relationship with God outside of the Temple, so David enjoyed being in the Lord's presence, inside His house.  Like David, our attitude towards God will determine our view of worship, corporately and individually.  Let's get excited when it's time to go to church.  You're going to spend time with your Lord and Savior, the creator of the universe!

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name."  (Psalm 100: 4, NIV)

Better Is One Day!

Psalms 84:1-2; 10, “How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. (10) Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere."

We are all living life in the fast lane. We all have plans, goals, and agendas. It seems as if we have our cell phones growing out of the side of our heads. We have learned to eat, listen to music, do business, and talk on the phone, all at once. This is living life in the fast lane. However, when we are consumed to living life in the fast lane, we often forget to wait on God. There is an aspect in all of us that wants to have control of every issue that is transpiring in our life.

I know from experience, when I try to take control and do things my way, I’m not nearly as happy and full of the joy of the Lord as I should be, and spiritually, just begin to feel weak. Having plans, goals, and agendas are all well and good, and we should be determined in them by setting the Lord always before us. Sometimes we just have to let go and let God. This requires waiting patiently upon Him! Those who spend more time with God find fresh strength! Are you feeling weak, frustrated, stressed, or even pressured? Spend more time with God! How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! Our hearts and even our flesh cry out for more of God. You will find peace, joy, hope, guidance, and strength in the presence of the Lord. May we once again passionately pursue His presence, experiencing the reality, that better is one day in His courts than a thousand elsewhere!

God Will Carry Our Burdens

"But I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice." Psalm 55:16-17

Today's reading could not have been more perfect for what I needed to read. There are countless times that I have opened up my Bible to find the solution I was looking for. There was a situation I had to deal with yesterday, and my husband texted me and asked if I needed his help. I wrote back, "I think I need Dr. Phil" in a joking manner! But, just reading today's scripture refreshed in me anew that all we need is Jesus! Who knows our troubles and sorrows better than the "lover of our soul". The Bible says that God knows our needs even before we ask. He is just waiting to hear the call from our weary soul.

HE KNOWS MY NAME:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UwUmh4gP4k

Friend or Foe?

Psalm 55:12-13 (New Living Translation)

 It is not an enemy who taunts me—

I could bear that.

It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me—

I could have hidden from them.

 Instead, it is you—my equal,

my companion and close friend.

David had enemies.  They would hunt him down.  He would hide out in caves.  You come to expect evil things from an enemy.  But, a friend?  Do you expect to be taunted by a friend?  David apparently had a friend who turned against him.  It's like the old saying, "If you have friends like that, then who needs an enemy." 

I am currently going through a situation with some family members where I have felt the hurt and the sting of their words.  And, I knew there were scriptures that made reference to being hurt by familiar people, not just your enemies.  I had just spoken yesterday about how I could have handled it better had it not been from someone close to me.  Then, last night, I read this scripture.  God sends us words, exactly when we need to hear them, if we only listen. 

Jesus knew what it was like to be wounded by a friend.  He felt the pain as Judas betrayed Him with a kiss.  When Jesus heard the rooster crow, He knew that Peter, his disciple and friend, had denied him.  Jesus suffered a horrible, physical death upon a cross.  But, the pain He must have felt when He was betrayed, denied, and seemingly left forsaken by God, his Father, just moments before He died, must have left Him with a broken heart. 

Jesus knows our hurt and pain.  He knows how it feels when our friends and enemies taunt us.  He knows because He has "been there, done that".  David knew what it was like, and he expressed those feelings in Psalms.  He would write about the pain he felt, but go on to worship and praise the Lord.  David trusted God to take care of him.  "But, I will call on God, and the Lord will rescue me."  (vs. 16)

Find Peace in Him

1God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.

² Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

³ though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
Selah

Psalms 46:1-3

Earthquakes, Oil Spills, Tornadoes, Hurricanes, Flooding, Terrorists, Volcanoes, Stock Market Crashes, and so on and so forth...oh where, oh where does it end? The answer to that is it ends with the coming of our King!

Meanwhile, it is difficult in today's times to feel peaceful. Our Earth is literally giving way and the mountains are falling into the sea! Yet, the Lord says we should find refuge in Him. He is our strength during these times. The media will try to sell you everything to find peace. Nothing will work but God.

The same concept applies to our own personal lives. No matter what storms may befall us, God has given us a place of refuge in Him. It is possible to trust Him enough that you can feel peace even though wars rage at your doorstep. You can find peace in knowing He is holding you in His arms, and He is ready to step into your troubles when the time is right.

I read a fictional story the other day. The story was about a young boy who had to go through a test. He had to endure the test blindfolded. However, when he was allowed to take the blindfold off, he found that his father was sitting beside him all the time. Even though we don't see God sitting beside us, He is always there. He is right there waiting to step in when we need Him. He is ready to hold us when we need comfort. He is ready to heal us when we feel pain.

Trust Him. Find peace in Him. You are not waiting on God. He is waiting on you.

The Beginning of Wisdom

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise. Psalms 111:10

What is the fear of the Lord? Mark Roth says, "the fear of the Lord is to be God-conscious."

I think to fear the Lord means to recognize Him as the Creator of all things, to understand that He is all powerful, and to realize that He truly is the Alpha and Omega of this universe we live in. This means that everything happens through Him and nothing happens without Him. Once you begin to realize God's place in your life and your place as His servant, you have taken the first step to gaining spiritual wisdom. If you follow his commandments, your heart will deepen daily with a better understanding of this concept simply by daily practice.

Lord, let us remain conscious of You at all times. Help us to understand the path you have set before us. Give us a better understanding of you each day as we attempt to carry out your commandments. Above any earthly desires, let us gain spiritual wisdom so that we may better serve you in this life. Thank you for all that You are, for both the seen and the unseen. -Amen

Money Can't Buy You Happiness

By the power of your hand, O Lord,
destroy those who look to this world for their reward.
But satisfy the hunger of your treasured ones.  

(Psalm 17: 14, NLT)

Tonight, in our youth service, Aaron talked about true happiness. Are you truly happy? What constitutes true joy? This verse stood out as being along the same thought lines, especially the footnote that follows:

"We deceive ourselves when we measure our happiness or contentment in life by the amount of wealth we possess. When we put riches at the top of our value system, we let power, pleasure, and financial security overshadow the eternal value of our relationship with God. We think we will be happy or content when we get riches, only to discover that they don't really satisfy, and the pleasures fade away. The true measurement of happiness or contentment is found in God's love and in doing His will. You will find true happiness if you put your relationship with God above earthly riches."  (Life Application Bible)

So much pressure in our society today is the ability to gain more money, more power, more prestige.  You see it on the television; you see on the front covers of magazines.  But,  how many people really stop to realize how happy the "rich and famous" truly are.  Money isn't buying them happiness if they are ending up in divorce court or in drug rehab.  Money can't buy them good health---only good doctors. As Aaron said, "You can't just reach out and grab happiness or joy.  It's only found from some One---and that One is Christ."

God, may we not be lured in by the things of this world.  May we set our hearts and minds on things that are eternal and everlasting.  May we find our joy in You!  Amen.

Behold You Are There

Psalms 139: 7-9, “Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into Heaven You are there; if I make my bed in Hell, behold You are there."

Ever since the day I was born, I have been the son of a preacher man. Much like Pastor Eric, I cut my teeth on the back of a wooden church pew. And, in my teenage years, I, too, had a drug problem---my parents drug me to church! As a teenage boy, I knew without a doubt the Lord had called me into ministry. However, I had seen ministry, lived in a home of ministry---watching my father and all that came along with it. The life of a minister did not look appealing to me at all, and I wanted no part of it! I wanted to pursue my own life, get a career, and do my best to get mine, having nice possessions. I would spend most of my teenage years running from the call of God. It seemed as if the more I would run, the more I would run right back into God, as if He were a brick wall! I could not escape, I could not run, and I could not hide.

I now look back and laugh, questioning, “Where can I go from Your spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?" I could never get away because He was always there! Although a lot of poor decisions may have been made, and I would create a self-made hell, He was still there. He never left me, He would never forsake me, and He upheld me with His mighty right hand!

Where do you feel like you are today? Are you ascending into Heaven, through praise and worship unto God? Maybe all hell has broken loose in your life, and you have just stopped and made your bed in Hell. I've got news for you---He is right there with you! I have learned that anytime you see the word “behold” in the word of God, it has significant meaning. Behold means you move into a new place, never to move back into the old place again! It is time to move into a new place! Give God praise, and no matter if I have made my bed in Hell, behold, for You are there!

This Seat is Saved

Imagine in your mind: a cozy restaurant, dim lights, a very intimate atmosphere. You look across the room to see a lonely man seated at a small round table. At first glance, you would think he was alone. But in his mind, he knows he's saving a seat for a very special person. Have you ever found yourself reserving a seat or section for a special person in your life?

In our reading today, we see David coming home to his palace. After defeating many kings and nations, he settles himself in the comfort of his surroundings. In that moment, he realizes that something (or someone) is missing. In his heart, he makes a "reservation" for the King of Glory. He makes a statement to Nathan, the prophet, "Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent."

Are you that person in the restaurant? Have you saved a place in your heart and life for God? If you find that you have cancelled that reservation, you may want to consider re-booking it! Jesus said that if you invite Him, he will come in and eat with you.

Work as Unto the Lord

Then David continued, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the Lord is finished correctly". (1 Chronicles 28: 20, NLT)

As I do each time before reading the text I am supposed to blog about, I pray that God will make at least one verse just stand out, or leap off the page with something relevant from which to write. Some days are easier than others for this to happen. But, tonight, as I read the designated text, I thought, "How appropriate!" (By the way, I usually prepare my blog the night before my assigned day so I can have it ready to post for the next morning. That's why I'm saying "tonight" even though you may be reading this in the a.m.)

Oh, yea, back to my thought! Why was this verse appropriate? I had painted for a few hours today on the new church building. I, along with several others, on more than one occasion, have already painted, swept, mopped, etc., working to prepare the new building (Temple). And, there will be several more days of work to be done before it is completed. Are there work crews there, sub-contracted out by the general contractor? Sure there are, but sometimes you need other "workers in the field" to come along to make sure the work is done to satisfaction, or also to stay on budget.

If anyone has built a house, you know what I'm talking about. There is a lot of work to be done, but there are also different types of work ethic. There are those who work hard, and it shows in the end results. Then, there are those who "cut corners". Some one's idea of excellence may be different than yours or mine. Some may work with the attitude, "As long as it's done, what does it matter what it looks like, or if it functions properly."

I believe that God wants us to work to the best of our ability. I believe He calls us to excellence. On a day like today, it's comforting to know and be reassured that God hasn't left us. He's going to give us the strength and the energy to do the work. And, He, God, will see that any work relating to His temple, and in our case, the building which will house the congregation of 3trees Church, will be "finished correctly". PTL!

A Light In The Darkness

By your words I can see where I'm going;
they throw a beam of light on my dark path.
I've committed myself and I'll never turn back
from living by your righteous order.
Everything's falling apart on me, God;
put me together again with your Word.
Festoon me with your finest sayings, God;
teach me your holy rules.Psalms 119:105-108 Message Bible

By your words I can see where I'm going....

Everything's fallen apart on me, God; put me together again with your Word...

Do you ever feel like you don't know where to turn next? Do you have problems that you do not know the answers to? Perhaps you have decisions to make and you don't know which choice is right?  Do you ever feel like nothing is going your way? Do you feel as if everything has fallen to pieces?

If so, I have good news for you! God has already provided us with our answers. Everything we need to know can be revealed to us in His Word. As we study the Word, over time, these words become "hidden in our hearts" so that we may draw from them when we need them. You may not find the answer you are looking for the first time that you pick it up. However, if you will keep reading it and asking God to reveal His will to you, then it will become known to you. The Holy Spirit will whisper the answers right to your heart!

When you feel like you have done all you can, when you feel like your life is a mess, there is only One who can put the pieces back together again! God is waiting to restore you completely! Just call upon Him and place it all at His feet! He is our deliverer in this life! He holds the key to all of our problems!

Take your problems to the Lord. Seek the answers in His Word. Call upon Him and He will answer.

 

Praise Him

A psalm. For giving thanks.

¹ Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.

² Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.

³ Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his ^a]">[a] ;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.

⁵ For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalms 100:1-5

It's interesting that the readings for the last few days have focused on praise, and my mind has also been thinking about praise even before I read it.

When we arrived at church Sunday night, the pastor told us that we were going to sing some old songs and enter into some praise. I said out loud to the person next to me. "Good, I'm ready. Let's get started." I don't know if that person had any idea how serious I was by that, but I am certain no one near me did out praise me that night. It helped that those were some of my favorite praise songs. I needed a night like that as much as a starving person needs food and water. My soul was longing for a night like that, a night where I could really praise Him.

This last Thursday, the pastor said we didn't get where we could have that night. I noticed the same. As a corporate body, most were hesitant to enter into that realm of praise. Why is that? Could it be that people were thinking about the rough week they just had? Were they thinking about all the prayers they were still waiting on? Or, were they just afraid for someone else to see them?

If you get desperate enough, you won't care who is there to witness it. Somebody came by and asked me if they could "get some of that". I guess they thought I had some happiness they desired.

The truth be known, last week was a terrible week for me. There were a lot of stressful personal issues that I had to deal with. It did end with Captivate, which was a great ending! However, that in itself was a tiring day. Honestly, I doubt my current life situation was any better than any one else at the moment. I just knew that I needed God to show up, and He was the only answer there could possibly be. I needed to praise Him for a month of preparing for Captivate and a great ending. I also needed to praise Him for all the personal issues I had to deal with that were yet unresolved. I needed to praise Him like it was already done! At some point, you have to understand that if there is nothing else in this world going right for you, you still have God and that is all you need.

Are you desperate enough to praise Him in both the good and the bad? Do you need Him to the point that you wouldn't care who noticed?

In the youth, they sing a song, "My soul longs for you---Like a deer pants for water". This song is also drawn from lines in the book of Psalms. Does your soul long for Him? Do you need Him as much as you need water and food? You do, even if you don't realize it. Without Him, your soul will wither up and die. After many days without Him, you will just be going through motions without even feeling His presence. It won't matter how good your life is. Your soul will still be dying and happiness will evade you.

Keep Him close to you. Praise Him! Praise Him for all He is, for all He has even done, and for all He ever will do. Just praise Him!