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Life isn’t learned in a Vacuum
January 14, 2010 in Uncategorized | Tags: addictions, anger, anxiety, blindness, changed lives, church, compassion, death, denial, devotional, divorce, embarrassment, failure, fear, freedom, God, guilt, understanding | 1 comment
Love the Lord your God with all our heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deuteronomy 6:5-7
Learning how to ‘do life’ isn’t done in a vacuum. Who would feel comfortable with a surgeon who told you just before you enter the operating room that “I’ve never really seen a surgery or done one before. but I’ve read lots of books on it and watch Grey’s Anatomy on TV so I think we should be okay.”
How comfortable would we be as airline passengers if the pilot came on and said, “Okay, now. This should be fun. As soon as I can figure out which button to push to turn the engines on I think we’ll be on our way. I’ve never flown a real plane before, but I had a radio controlled one as a kid. How hard can it be?”
None of us would go to surgery or fly a plane with the above mentioned situation. We are putting our very lives in their hands. We want to know that they will be fully equipped and experienced to handle every situation that may present itself. While not many of us will be pilots or surgeons, the experiences of our lives can have profound effects on those around us without us even being aware of it.
One of the reasons Jesus was such an effective teacher is that He used life experiences to teach eternal truths. It’s in the everyday events of life that we can show those around us the Christ-life. Too often we tend to separate our ‘real life’ with our ‘Christ-life’ but that isn’t reality. Jesus came to live among us to show us that the journey can be long and hard, but that with His power in us we can change our world.
Every situation doesn’t need to have an accompanying sermon or a lecture. As one person said, “Preach Jesus every day and when necessary, use words!” We can show others much more by how we react to situations than they will learn in an entire year of sermons and Bible Studies. The words you speak, the attitudes you show, and the non-verbal signals you send can be used of God to show others His love.
Each of us has a story. We make mistakes and poor, or just plain stupid decisions. We hurt people. We break relationships. We acquire debt. Don’t dwell on the mistakes you have made in life. Use them as lessons learned; lessons that can be used to lift others up who are struggling, are discouraged or have fallen. The mistakes of our past can be used to help others learn how to walk.
PRAYER: Dear Jesus. I know life is a journey and I’ve taken many side trips and detours that have hurt me and others. Forgive me for the poor choices I’ve made, the people I’ve hurt and the relationships I’ve broken. Help me to use these lessons to lift those who need you. Help me to show them your love. Amen.
Lift your eyes up to the healer!
January 12, 2010 in Uncategorized | Tags: addictions, anger, anxiety, blessings, blindness, church, compassion, denial, devotional, divorce, embarrassment, failure, forgiveness, freedom, God, understanding | Leave a comment
So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then, when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived. Numbers 21:9
The trip through the wilderness had gone on now for 40 years. The people were growing restless. They were tired of manna, tired of quail, tired of having to set up camp and tear down camp. The kids were restless, Grandma and Grandpa were crabby and it was hot! Now, to make matters worse the nation headed back towards the Red Sea! It seemed like they were just going in circles.
Soon grumbling began. Where was this ‘promised land’ that God had given them? Did Moses really know where he was going and what he was doing? Wasn’t it easier in Egypt? At least they had homes and great Egyptian food!
When God had heard enough of their complaining he sent snakes among the people. The snake bites killed many of the Israelites. When they realized what was happening the Israelites cried out to Moses for help. God instructed Moses to make a snake out of bronze and put it high on a pole. Anyone who looked to the snake was healed.
For years afterwards the snake was an icon among the Israelites. It reminded them of God’s deliverance. Jesus speaks about Himself as being like that snake. Anyone who looked on the snake in the wilderness was healed. It didn’t matter who they were or what they had done. The past didn’t matter. The important thing is that they had faith to look to the snake. It was true for those close to the pole and those far away.
The same is true for us today. Our past doesn’t matter. It’s not about gifts and talents and money and all the other things that society tells us we must have to be successful. It’s about looking to Jesus. He alone can heal us from all that afflicts us.
Are you wandering in the wilderness? Does the journey seem long and hard? Do you feel you have wandered to far from God? Look to Jesus. He longs to heal you.
PRAYER: Dear Jesus. Just as the Israelites complained during their wilderness I confess that I’m tired of the wandering. Help me to look to you, to keep my eyes above the trials of life and believe you for deliverance. Amen
What’s Your Sign?
January 11, 2010 in Uncategorized | Tags: Abraham, addictions, anxiety, blessings, changed lives, church, compassion, denial, devotional, divorce, embarrassment, failure, fear, resurrection, second chances, shame, sin, understanding | Leave a comment
He took him outside and said, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars–if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Genesis 15:5
It had been years since Abram left his homeland for the new life promised him by the God of Heaven. Although his father had died a few years earlier, Abram had been blessed. His flocks had increased, the land was fruitful and he had peace with those around him.
In spite of all that, there was one thing that continued to bother Abram. He and his wife Sarai were still waiting for the promise of children. Having no children to carry on his name was a huge disappointment! Where was God’s promise? How would he be the father of a great nation when he had no children of his own?
One day, God visited Abram and reminded him of the promise. He told Abram that He would protect him and guide him. But Abraham complained to the Lord, “What reward can you give me for my future? I have no children to pass on my legacy to. My fortune will be turned over to my servants.” Abraham was NOT happy.
So God took Abram outside the tent. He said to Abram. Look at the stars Abram. Someday your children will be as many as the stars of the heaven. Abram, I promise you. Someday your offspring will be so many that you won’t be able to count them!
Even though he’d been waiting a long time, Abram believed God. From that point forward, whenever he went outside at night and saw the stars he was reminded that God was there and that someday the promised son would come. Perhaps that alone was what helped Abram and his wife endure the waiting, the pain and the loneliness of no children.
Sometimes we need a visual to help us remember things. Some people tie a string around their finger, or make notes or come up with tricky little sayings to remember important things. Just as Abraham had the stars to remind him of God’s promise, we as Christ followers have a sign: the Cross of Jesus.
The Cross of Jesus reminds us of forgiveness. It reminds us of the empty tomb and the new life we have in Christ. It reminds us that when God promises something, it happens. Period. That doesn’t mean that we won’t struggle from time to time. It doesn’t mean there won’t be hard times. It DOES mean that we can trust God to come through for us when we need Him because we are much loved children.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father. Thank you that your promises never fail. Help me to look to the cross during the hard times of life. Help me to remember that you promised never to leave me or forsake me. I praise you for your forgiveness, love and m
What are you made of?
January 10, 2010 in Uncategorized | Tags: addictions, anxiety, blindness, changed lives, church, death, divorce, Easter, embarrassment, failure, fear, forgiveness, second chances, shame, sin, understanding | Leave a comment
Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn. Isaiah 51:1
Stonehenge is a mysterious collection of rocks in England. For years the question of who built it, when they built it and how they built it has mystified scholars. It has stood for thousands of years as a monument to human achievement and creativity. It has weathered world wars, famines, disease and the ravages of time itself.
The prophet Isaiah speaks of the righteous as being those that God has ‘cut from a rock’ and ‘hewn from a quarry’. He’s referring to those who would one day receive the promise of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. In Isaiah’s day people looked forward to that rock. Today we look back. But the rock is the same, the promise is intact.
Isaiah says we are cut from a rock, not a bunch of rocks, not a series of quarries. Jehovah God fashioned us just as he wanted so that we would endure the tests of time. Life gets us down from time to time. We can lose site of the rock, lose our energy to go on. But Isaiah reminds us that we are all cut from the same stone; the stone that Adam, David, Ruth, Solomon, Paul, Peter and all the other great men and women of faith were cut from.
It’s not about how much money you make. It’s not about the job you have, the house you live in, or your grade point average, or any other number of things people tend to judge us by. It’s not about the music you like or the church you attend. It’s about realizing that YOU were made by the Creator God for a special purpose. He cut you from rock so that you will endure everything life can through at you. Then he gave you forgiveness through His Son Jesus and power to life through His Holy Spirit.
The next time the enemy attacks, remember who made you and what you are made of!
PRAYER: Creator God, I thank you today that you crafted me from rock that I can withstand all the elements and attacks of the world around me. I humbly accept your forgiveness for the many times I’ve failed to do the things I know I should do. Please help me to allow the Holy Spirit to direct my every thought. Keep me focused on who I am in you. Amen.
Remember!
January 8, 2010 in Uncategorized | Tags: addictions, anger, anxiety, blessings, blindness, changed lives, church, compassion, death, denial, devotional, Easter, embarrassment, Jesus Christ, life, my past, second chances, shame, understanding | Leave a comment
Do you have eyes but fail to see and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? Mark 8:18
It’s the inner quality of life that matters most. Too often we become discouraged and distracted by the external circumstances of life and forget the important things. One day when Jesus and the disciples were on a journey it was discovered that they’d failed to bring enough bread for the trip. This shouldn’t have mattered to the disciples. In the past couple weeks they’d seen Jesus miraculously multiply bread and fish to feed 4,000 and 5,000 people respectfully.
Jesus tried to use this opportunity to remind the disciples of the danger of yeast in their lives. In the Bible yeast is used as a symbol of sin. Yeast isn’t seen but it takes very little to change the entire loaf of bread. It wasn’t the lack of bread Jesus was concerned about. It was the hidden doubts and worries that had overtaken the disciples that day. Doubt and worry keeps us from being all God intends for us to be.
I imagine it was with some amazement that Jesus asks the disciples. Don’t you remember what I’ve done in the past? Why are you focusing on issues I can take care of? Guard yourselves from the little things in life that can pull you away from me. Look back at what I’ve done for you. Haven’t I provided more than what you’ve needed in the past? It isn’t the things that you see that will cause you to stumble. It’s those little things, the hidden things in life that can sneak in and steal away your joy, your victory, your success.
Keep your eyes and heart focused on what you’ve seen Jesus do in the past. If He did that for you then, imagine the great things He has in store for your future! Measure tomorrow’s problems by the measuring stick of God’s provision in the past. He has never failed to fulfill his promises. Throughout history he has done just what he said he would do. God has promised us, as His children, that he will never leave you and never forsake you. He will always provide just what you need.
Prayer: Heavenly Father. Thank you that you have given me permission to call you Daddy. Thank you for the promises that you have given to me in the past. As I face the challenges before me help me to remember that you have given me everything I need to succeed in living for you. Help me to set aside my own strength so that I can rely on yours and trust your provision. Amen
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 