Mike Fisk & Built with Grace

Spiritual Preserves

August 2, 2012 in Uncategorized | Tags: Consequences, God, grace, Home made bread and Jelly, hope in despair, Jesus Christ, preserved, Psalm 31:23 | 8 comments

Love the Lord, all his faithful people! The Lord preserves those who are true to him, but the proud he pays back in full. Psalm 31:23 (NIV)

Mom grew up in rural Minnesota long before cell phones and microwaves and cyberspace were even words in the dictionary. She’d often tell stories of riding to church in the sleigh or buggy with nothing but hot stones to warm their feet. When electricity came to their farm it was an amazing, exciting event!

In mom’s world, frugality was a lifestyle, not an option. The things she learned on the farm prepared her for her life as a pastor’s wife. With five boys to feed and a husband serving small, rural churches like she grew up in, excess was rare and simple things were cherished.

One of the many things mom did to make ends meet was to always have a big garden. At the time, I didn’t appreciate the fresh vegetables and detested the thought of having to help plant, weed or harvest. I don’t ever remember, however, being upset about having the fruit and vegetables mom canned on those cold winter evenings or for Sunday dinner!

I never once complained about having mom’s strawberry preserves on a piece of her warm, homemade bread.

Today, for the most part, people who preserve fruits and vegetables and make jam and preserve other fruit do so for nostalgia or to help make ends meet. For mom (and us) it was a necessity. Rows of colorful jars on the basement shelf in the fall provided assurance of food for the winter regardless of anything else that might happen.

I think of that when I read Psalm 31:23. The Lord ‘preserves’ those who are true to him. We, as his children are protected from the ravages of life. Regardless of what goes on around us, we stay safe in secure in him, like a jar of strawberry jam, unaffected by all that goes on around us.

Today the things I see around me make life difficult. Today I’m confused, frustrated, worried and maybe even angry at times by where I see the world going. But I’m preserved! I know that someday all this will pass and I’ll receive in full measure all that the Father has for me. The Father’s preservation of me means I’m changed so that life’s struggles will not affect me, yet I maintain the basic identity of who I am.

Those who reject his love, the psalmist says, will receive, in full measure, the consequences of their rejection. They will seek fulfillment in things unpleasing to God and suffer the despair of loneliness. They’ll openly reject the principles of his word and continue on a path of hopelessness. Will God punish them severely? I think the psalmist implies that he won’t need to. He’ll simply let the consequences of their behavior run its full course in their lives. Rejecting God carries its own penalty.

For us, though, as his children there is forgiveness, restoration, and best of all, preservation.

PRAYER: Father God, I thank you for preserving me. The things I see around me scare me. The trials I’m enduring now weigh me down. But I rest in your promise and wait for your blessing to unfold because I know that through Jesus Christ I am preserved. Amen.

Problem or Opportunity?

August 1, 2012 in Uncategorized | Tags: courage, facing lifes problems, fear, grace, James 1:2-3, opportunities to grow stronger, relying on God, trust | 2 comments

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. James 1:2-3 (NLT)

I remember the registrar at the small MidwesternBibleCollege I went to in the early 70’s. Robert had a heart for God and a heart for us ‘kids’ entering college. The thing I remembered the most about him was that it didn’t take long for us students to learn to never, ever use the word ‘problem.’

As soon as the word ‘problem’ left your lips he’d put his hand up and gently interrupt with his favorite phrase:

“Ah! No such thing as problems. Only opportunities to see how the Lord can work.”

Those words have stuck with me ever since, but it’s far easier for to focus on the problem than see the opportunity. It’s easier to succumb to worry than to rely on trust. It makes more sense in our human minds to figure out a way to avoid issues than it is to rely on an outside source.

Opportunity is hard to see when we are in the midst of trials, but even more so when those trials are a result of our own choices. When we look at trials as problems our options are many, but results are limited. We can blame others, we can blame God, we can worry, we can go into denial, try new relationships or surroundings or a whole basketful of other options.

When we look at trials as opportunities, our options may be few (one actually) but the results are infinite. When I look at a trial as my own problem, then I am the only one that can solve it. When I look at a trial as the Lord’s opportunity to show himself to me, then the responsibility for solution becomes his. My response is to trust him so that I can grow stronger and have more courage.

Fear and worry paralyze us. Courage is knowing that whatever trials are before us, we will be stronger on the other side. Faith is knowing that regardless of the reasons for my struggle, my God will never leave me and can use anything I encounter as an opportunity for him to show his grace, mercy and love.

Is what you are facing today a problem or an opportunity? Your response to that question will determine how you approach the future.

PRAYER: Father God, the things I’m facing scare me. In my humanity I tend towards trying to solve my own problems rather than relying on you to show my how to grow through them. Empower me with your Spirit to see all of life as an opportunity for you to make me stronger. Amen.

The Anointing

July 15, 2012 in Uncategorized | Tags: Anointed with Jesus, being anointed, God, King David's anointing, Psalm 28:8, strength during the wilderness, the strength of the Lord is with you, Where is God's promise? | 2 comments

The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. Psalm 28:8

Imagine what it was like for David, just a kid, a mere 16 years old or so. His idea of excitement was being in the mountain meadow tending a bunch of sheep. David spent more time alone than he spent with people.

One day all that changed. He was called in from the field and when he arrived, the great priest Samuel was there. Priests didn’t just ‘show up’ at your door for no reason. Especially someone as mighty as Samuel. When he came, there was a reason. What must have been going through his mind as the oil from the anointing ran down his cheeks and dripped from his chin?

The King? Me? I’ve never even been in the palace much less be king?

Anointing didn’t mean maybe. David was in! How or why or when didn’t matter at that time. Too much to think about. Scripture implies that at least for a while David returned to the fields. Same old sheep. Same long nights. But now, there must have been something different, and the difference was in David. Now he had hope. Now he knew God was going to use him for something wonderful. The songs of praise must have rolled off his lips.

The story didn’t end there of course. There were years of waiting. Years of scoffing by his brothers. Years of dodging spears and angry tirades by Saul. Years of hiding for his life in caves. Years of wondering when God’s promise would be fulfilled.

What was it that kept him going? What was it that made David get out of bed every morning and attack each day as a mighty warrior with victory in sight? The motivation for David’s persistence was his anointing. That was the promise that would never fail because that promise came from God.

As a follower of Jesus Christ you are anointed today. Whatever trial you are facing, whatever disappointment is trying to keep you from moving forward, whatever or whoever has hurt you with words or action, don’t forget the anointing.

The anointing David received was a promise of strength and a promise of the future. It was a guarantee that God the almighty, the Creator of the universe, the one who hung the stars in space and flung the galaxies into place has chose you for a task and he will see you through to the end.

There will be dark nights. There will be wilderness trails to endure. But when God anoints you, when He has chosen you, the outcome is sure and is in his hands not yours. A wonderful word of praise and reminder from the Psalms.

PRAYER: Father God. Worry seems to follow me. I doubt myself and at times I doubt you. People mistreat me and I make mistakes. But today I rest on the promise of my anointing through Jesus Christ. Today I rest on your promise to see me though. Amen.

Only You

July 14, 2012 in Uncategorized | Tags: equality is the key, God, is tolerance the answer, is your faith real, love will get us through, Psalm 28:1, trust, trusting my own resources | Leave a comment

Only you, Lord, are a mighty rock! Don’t refuse to help me when I pray. If you don’t answer me, I will soon be dead. Psalm 28:1 (CEV)

Government tells us that safety and prosperity will come from new programs and equality.

Religion tells us that safety and prosperity will come from following certain dogmas and rules.

Education tells us that safety and prosperity will come from new books, higher learning and giving everyone an equal chance.

Society tells us safety and prosperity will come from acceptance and loving relationships.

But governments come and go and things haven’t gotten much better; religion has failed to give us any assurance that life is better by following those rules; education hasn’t solved any major issues of late and society seems on the brink of collapsing within itself.

So what can we hang our hat on every night? What assurance do we have that there is something better ahead? What comfort can we have when the bills are more than the money, our health is failing and the relationship we are in is unsatisfying on the good days and unbearable on the bad days?

A rock climber will tell you that a good foothold in the sheerest of cliffs gives you all the confidence in the world to move on. I’m not a rock climber, but I know about sheer cliffs. I know about getting into a place where there seems to be no way out and having one thing you can count on makes all the difference in the world.

I’m reminded of an old joke I heard years ago. A motorcyclist was driving through the mountains. He navigated one curve after another with no problem. Then the unthinkable happened. He took one curve too fast and ended up going over a sheer 500 foot cliff.

Halfway down he managed to grab a scraggly pine tree growing out of the rock. Suspended 250 feet from the rocky valley below, he screamed for help.

“Is there anybody up there to help me? He screamed at the top of his lungs.

“I’m here,” he finally hears a voice coming from nowhere.

“Well, who are you and can you help me?”

“I’m God, and of course I can help you.”

A bit confused he yells, “Good, can you get me out of here?”

The voice answers back, “Sure, let go of the tree.”

After a moment’s hesitation the man screams again, “Is there anyone else up there that can help me?”

Too often we fail to trust God completely. We acknowledge him as creator God, as controller of the universe, but when life seems impossible we turn to our own resources instead of complete trust in God.

Are you clinging to a tree hoping for some magical rescue? Trust God for who he is and let go of the tree!

PRAYER: Father I’m facing obstacles in my life I neither understand nor have an answer to. I’ve tried everything I know of to get out of this predicament. Now I turn to you and ask you to help me trust you with my entire life. Amen.

It’s Not My Fault

July 11, 2012 in Uncategorized | Tags: fear, guilt, guilty but not admitting it, Luke 23:41, playing the part of a victim, refusing to accept responsibility, the blame game | Leave a comment

We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Luke 23:41

The five hardest words to say in society:

“I’m sorry.”

“I was wrong.”

Three men crosses, three men, three entirely different stories, all were going to die that day.

On the one side hung a man who was arrogant, and proud. Even with death staring him in the face he never relented. To the very end his words and actions told his life story. To the very end he attacked others rather than looking at himself. Life was a blame game. Blame others. Refuse to look at your own faults. Dull your own pain by focusing on, and if possible increasing the pain of others. Take no thought in how your actions may affect those around you. Every man for himself.

On the other side hung a man who spent his dying moments reflecting on life. His attitude on the cross may give insight into his life as a whole. This was the man next door. Good to his kids, kind to his wife. May have even gone to church occasionally (like Easter and Christmas). But life dealt him a cruel hand. Try as he might, he just couldn’t shake the lifestyle that put nails in his hand. His may have been addiction. It may have been an attitude of action without thinking. He may have lived a life full of anger, frustration or fear.

Moral? Perhaps in some ways. The rough exterior that put the nails in his hands may have belied an underlying heart of compassion and kindness and humility. While we don’t know much about him but we can surmise that he knew how to say the five words.

His rebuke of his cross mate showed that he knew he was wrong. While his buddy blamed others, he took responsibility himself. We know he was sorry for he asked the man in the middle for forgiveness (of sorts).

In the middle Jesus Christ stands between heaven and hell; between paradise and judgment; between forgiveness and shame. Three different men, three different stories, two different outcomes. The one who refused to accept responsibility died that day and is spending eternity separated from God. The other two men moved from earth to heaven. Jesus taking along his new found friend, removing him from judgment and bringing him to paradise; granting him forgiveness and taking away his shame.

We can focus on what others have done to us and play the part of a victim or we can admit our part in the guilt. We can accept judgment or accept grace and forgiveness.

Jesus Christ was more than just a religious figure or a good teacher. He was more than a prophet. He was and is Messiah. He came to take away your guilt and your shame. He came to forgive those who are willing to look at themselves, admit their fault and accept his forgiveness.

PRAYER: Jesus thank you for your forgiveness. I worship you because once I was like the man who chose to blame others rather than accept responsibility for my rebellion. Thank you that I am free because you died for me. Amen.