Our Father In Heaven

“Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.” Colossians 3:2

Our youngest daughter is 14 months old and the number of words/methods she uses to express herself is growing rapidly. For example, she can sign “more” and “all done.” This expressive language was learned by watching us. She studies our hands to learn sign language and looks at our mouths to grasp accurate articulation. She imitates what she sees. We, too, will imitate what we behold. Let us consider, then, what we spend our time looking at.

Colossians 3:2 reminds us to, “Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.” This verse, written by the Apostle Paul, indicates that the church at Colossae struggled with being influenced by the culture around them. Honestly, it is a struggle we still face as we are bombarded by an abundance of voices that seek to minimize Christ and deceive us into empty philosophies.

However, in John 17:14 Jesus prays, “I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.” Friends, we may be in the world, but we are absolutely not of it. We receive instruction from a higher, greater source. We actively resist the urge to bring God down to our level and instead, look up.

In Matthew 6, the disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray. He begins the prayer in Verse 9 by saying, “This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name…”” Jesus begins by setting his focus on His father in heaven.

We are invited to do the same and live each day with a heavenly perspective. When we look to Him, we are reminded that He is seated. He isn’t frantically pacing Heaven because He’s nervous, unsure, or things are spinning out of control. He is peaceful, steady, and confident. Nothing catches Him by surprise and there’s not one situation He can’t ultimately work together for our good and His glory.

Each day we can shift our focus from the world around us, how we feel, and what our situation looks like, to what and who we know. We remember and rehearse the faithfulness of God and all He has done. We recall how He has provided, delivered, healed, set free, restored, and redeemed. When our attention is focused on Him all other things lose their power. What we fill our minds with has a profound effect on us. Therefore, parking our thoughts on God instead of what-if scenarios builds our faith, honors the Lord, and promotes the peace of God in our lives.

Looking to our Father in Heaven will transform us.

“Lord, help us to begin each day, this week, setting our minds on you. As we do, allow it to be a compass that sets the direction of our day for Heaven’s purpose. May our minds be renewed as we meditate on your goodness. Allow us to imitate you by walking in Your supernatural peace, joy, and abundance. Let your presence “keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” (Isaiah 26:3) In Jesus’ matchless name, Amen.”

Unchanging God

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17

This week, my colored pens, highlighters, and planner occupy a corner of our farmhouse table. I am organizing our ministry calendar, making homeschool lesson plans, printing chore charts and jotting down personal goals. We just celebrated the start of a brand-new year. People across the world are making schedules, recording resolutions, and writing down hopes; just like me.

For many, the dawn of a new year represents great possibility. There is potential for fresh opportunities, fulfilled dreams, and answered prayers. We begin each year with high hopes and big expectations. Collectively our eyes are fixed forward, and we desire good things to happen in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

This devotional, however, is written for the ones with a nagging voice in the back of their minds telling them not to get their hopes up. Is that you? Perhaps the last few seasons or years have left you weary. Maybe you are hesitant to dream too big because you have felt disappointed in the past. It could be that you’re walking through intense pain that seems unending. It feels downright risky to hope for anything better.

But the truth, today, is this- we are beloved children of the most-high God. He is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. He is “before all things, and in Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17). He is “Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end” (Revelation 22:13). He is “the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God” (1 Timothy 1:17). And He is “the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

Our hope is anchored in the consistency of who He is.

According to the Word, and further confirmed by our testimonies, He is good, kind, loving, faithful, trustworthy, powerful, wise, and MORE. He’s more than we could ever think, dream, or imagine.

And we can anchor our lives on this- if everything around us changes, He never will.

As His children, we are invited to get our hopes up in 2022! Romans 5:5 reminds us that, “hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Let’s dare to believe, “this could be the year that everything changes for the better. This could be the year that our prayers are answered, our bodies are healed, and our relationships are restored.” “Surely goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our life…” (Psalm 23:6)

Because of Him, we can step into each day expecting to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! We might not know, specifically, what this year will hold but we know the One who does. He is good and He will continue being good to us.

Ministry of the Mundane

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17

As a homeschool mom of three, I spend a significant amount of time completing repetitive tasks. My daily rhythm includes taking the kids to extracurricular activities, reviewing spelling words, washing dishes, changing the baby’s diapers and more. There are times that my day feels incredibly mundane because most of my hours are like the ones that came before. Even so, the truth is this- mundane days, done in the name of the Lord Jesus, add up to meaningful lives.

1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” For believers, there is no separation between the spiritual and secular. Everything we do whether at church, work, or home is intended to be done for one reason- to bring honor and glory to the Lord.

We can pass through our days without giving much consideration to our eternal purpose OR we can live with an awareness that each moment can point back to our good and gracious God. We can live faithfully even when the moments feel unimportant and insignificant because every moment is infused with eternity when it’s done “in Jesus’ name.”

When your little one is nervous about going to the dentist and you pray with them for courage, it matters. When you pick trash up out of the bathroom floor at church because the house of God should be cared for, it is important. When you mow the grass for an elderly neighbor that can’t do it themselves anymore, it makes a difference. When you pay for the coffee of the person in line behind you at Starbucks, you’re changing the world. When you change your baby’s diaper for the 10th time that day, it’s significant.

Friends, nothing you do is meaningless. It all matters.

Welcome to the ministry of the mundane. The place where our lives and all the big and small moments make a big deal out of our magnificent God. The space where our days are a reflection of His consistent kindness, extravagant generosity, and lavish love. 1 Thessalonians 4:10-11 says, “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life…” We do not need a platform, recognition, or 10k followers on Instagram to make an impact for God. All we need is a heart and life submitted to the Father.

Its OK to live a quiet, God-honoring life.

So, let’s live with awareness, excitement, and expectation that wherever we are standing is holy ground and whatever He has given us to do is sacred because we are living under the banner of His name. We will live like the mundane matters because, in God’s Kingdom, it does.

Uncomplicated Prayer

“Because He bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath.” Psalm 116:2 (NLT)

My oldest daughter is seven years old. She talks from the time she wakes up until the moment she falls asleep. Honestly, we hear her talking in her sleep sometimes too. She directs a large sum of these words at her dad. When she speaks to him, she does not worry about sounding proper. She doesn’t compare the way she talks to her dad to the way someone else speaks to theirs. She doesn’t carefully measure each word attempting to sound like she has it all together. If she’s sad, she tells him. If she’s mad, she speaks up. If she has a question, she asks. If she’s frustrated, she says that too. She enthusiastically tells him everything that is on her mind. Conversing with him is not a chore, it’s a joy and blessing. The way she communicates is honest, open, and simple. It’s not complicated.

Overcomplicating prayer is something many believers struggle with. It is a tactic the enemy uses to prevent us from praying. He is aware of the powerful promises, located in Scripture, that are attached to prayer. For instance, Mark 11:24 says, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” It’s no surprise, then, that the enemy of our souls wants us to feel wildly insecure about prayer! When we perceive that we aren’t good at it or that we aren’t doing it correctly then we don’t ask, believe, or receive.

Friends, Perfection is NOT a prerequisite to prayer.

We do not have to use fancy words, take a certain pitch, or pray for a lengthy amount of time for it to be effective. James 5:16 says, “the prayers of the righteous availeth much.” It does not say, “eloquent prayers availeth much.” His only requirement is righteousness. For the children of God, this is good news! 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” As born-again believers, we ARE the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. So, when we communicate with God, we can be confident that things happen in the heavenly realm!

I am always blessed by the intentional way my husband listens to my daughter when she speaks. He’ll stop what he’s doing, make eye contact, and lean in. Our Heavenly Father does the same.

Psalm 116:2 tells us, “Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath.” Let’s pause to picture this. The King of Kings, the Lord God Almighty, bends down to listen to us when we pray. He’s fully attentive and earnestly listening. He leans in to make sure He doesn’t miss a word.

We have the ear of our Father in Heaven.

Let’s remember, this week, that the power of prayer is not in the one praying as much as it’s in the one we are praying to. We serve a powerful, loving, kind, good Father. Because He’s listening, let’s offer up our uncomplicated prayers and approach God as a child does their father. Prayer is our privilege.

The Sound of Victory

Psalms 40:3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.

The miraculous manner in which the Israelites crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land was never left to the memory of a few scribes or the whimsical hope of generational storytelling. The magnificence of God’s hand in establishing Israel in their own land demanded that their miracle of transition to freedom be perpetually remembered.

Purposeful and awe-inspiring, the works of God should awake us from earth’s hypnotic pace, as they speak expressly of His unworldly power, love, and character. And His works when rightly testified and praised in the public square provide persistent persuasion for mankind to believe.

Yet, even in our day-to-day humanity we’re caught up in the pressures and mazes of this present life and oft forget the grit, guts, and glory of former times. And because of our regrettable lapses in recalling and revering great moments, we do numerous things to keep those moments fresh and alive. From vacation memorabilia, to the innumerable pictures of family accomplishments, to scrapbooks detailing exciting seasons of childhoods or hobbies, we find creative ways to ensure that our pasts are remembered, respected, and relevant. 

Successful nations remember their histories through plaques, monuments, and museums. Stroll around a few blocks of this nation’s Capital and you’ll quickly notice and learn of the movers and shakers of democratic government, military victories, and economic visionaries. The impact made in former generations produce unending ripple effects and appreciation for centuries old efforts in bettering our nation is found on buildings, streets, and statues all across D.C.

After 400 years of Egyptian slavery and 40 wandering years in the wilderness, the miraculous entering into Canaan of the entire nation of Israel required that a memorial of 12 stones be erected at the site of their first encampment. There were no snapshots from that incomparable day, but a Jordan riverbed stone from each of the 12 tribes would become a monument from which the declaration of God’s faithfulness would be known to the generations that followed. Living in their own land, the idea was that the 12-stone memorial would create curiosity and intriguing conversations and the greatness of God’s hand in that single day miracle would be generationally conveyed.

God, throughout history, has sanctioned memorials, altars, and mandates that remind creation of His presence, love, and care. From the stones inscribed with the 10 commandments, to the stones of Joshua and Jacob, to myriad stone altars placed to signify God’s presence, to the stones upon which the temple was built, all were but types of which the Church would later become – a building constructed with “living stones”. The worldwide assemblage called the Church would offer the “living” sacrifices of vibrant praise that would bring constant remembrance of the one and only living God.

So, it is appropriate that God in turn also recognize those on earth who love Him and serve His creation well. One man of such deserving honor was Cornelius, a man written of in glowing terms in Acts 10. Though being a Roman centurion and a Gentile through and through, this man lived so close to God in prayers and generosity that an angel informed him that his works were creating a memorial before God! The Father of all glory and honor recognized this man’s extraordinary faith and humility. And because of his piety and uncommon altruism, God desired that Cornelius be the first gentile recipient of the promised gift of the Holy Spirit. And from Cornelius the flowing river of the Spirit would extend freely to the uttermost parts of the Gentile world.

There’s something unique about lives that display sincere compassion and unselfishness. Lives of this sort are oft brought before the Lord, not of their own desire or will, but of the sacred will and holy desire of God Himself. God honors such virtue with innumerable blessings and unexpected graces, as God promises to reward those who diligently seek His face and likeness.

Paul and Silas were men of such quality, men rich in love and filled with an unquantifiable faith. Entrusted with the Gospel of Christ, these men lived for nothing more than the demonstration of Christ’s life and power. And a display not only in the calm waters of political peace and social tranquility, but in the shark infested waters of anti-Christ governments, divisive religious fervor, and fiery cultural dissidence.

So, it was in a dark Roman prison cell that Paul and Silas’s greatest light shone. According to Acts 16, beaten and facing imminent death, these men did what they had always done – they prayed, sang, and praised God! At midnight these men lived out their faith in joyful refrains – God is good, all the time! And somehow, God found this situation the perfect occasion to both deliver His children and glorify Himself! Their confining shackles were loosed, the prison doors were opened, and the warden and his family believed and were baptized!

Obviously, then, in regards to the redemptive work of Christ, no earthly monument nor edifice of man’s design will ever declare fully the miracle of grace and mercy. That task is left to those who have experienced the depths of never-to-be-remembered-again forgiveness, and of unbounded mercy, and of indescribable grace.

Though the Church teaches and practices the sacraments of baptism and Communion for remembrance, the unbelieving world seldom notices these time-honored activities. And though we honor the Bible and acknowledge God in creation, those outside of grace gain little from our obedience.

But the audible praises of God are something far different. Praises of God catch the ears of the busy, and the joyful shouts of victory startle the dismayed and disillusioned. Hearing the praises of God in the trenches of our work spaces, schools, and market places influence powerfully the atmospheres and mindsets of those around. When God is exalted through praise, the troubled and hurting will seek out the back story!

Thus, may it never be that the greatness and love of God is quieted and made obscure through creation’s ingratitude, self-conceit, and sin-induced blindness. From those who know His name and have tasted of His grace, a perpetual river of unabashed adoration and thankfulness remains the most influential means whereby God is known and received.

Words Matter

James3:6 And the tongue is a fire…

Seldom is the “thing” the problem, but rather the one controlling the “thing”. And the “thing” could be most anything- from a hand tool, to dynamite, to fertilizer, to sex. And from technology, to vehicles, to clotheslines, things are no more than means to an end, an item of value awaiting evidentiary intent of the one holding the “thing”.

Alone, the “thing” lies still, impotent, and powerless. But when one possesses the “thing” and exercises discretionary power of its use, well, it’s then that eyebrows are raised, headlines are made, and lives are changed.

The claw hammer has been the contractor’s tool of choice for centuries. Driving 16d’s into framing lumber has held structures together across the known world- from chicken coops, to 4 room row houses, to country-club mansions. And that same common hammer has been the convenient persuader of many a floor joist cut just a “smidgen too long” (just beat it till it fits)! And what little boy hasn’t mashed his finger building his own tree house or cut his proverbial construction “teeth” on his first puppy’s doghouse! A hammer is a good thing!

And for the last century or so, what a game changer Smith-Douglas fertilizer has been to the farming community. Prior to recent advancements in soil science and plant nutrition, the nutrients needed for quality soil and productive crops were stinking fish heads and last year’s decaying plants. But in exponentially glowing terms, commercial fertilizers have increased drastically both crop yields and the growth rate of pastured livestock. Fertilizer is a good thing!

And what about that beautiful “thing” we call sex! What a gift! Through wisdom and pure genius, God created mankind male and female. And from those genders and within the framework of marriage, the most intimate of human desire provides both indescribable pleasure and the essential propagation of the human race. Sex is a good thing!

Now, a hammer is just a thing, and so is fertilizer, and so is sex. And when serving their creative purpose, humanity is universally bettered by them. But in the hands of angry men that same hammer has broken windows, destroyed paint jobs, and been the tool for death ending tragedies. And consider that the same fertilizer used to better the food supply of every nation on earth, was also used in an explosion to kill 168 people in the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City just a few years ago. And what the Creator sanctioned in providing mankind a means for marital unity and perpetuation of family, that same gift of sexual intercourse has oft become a trade-off or sellable commodity- utterly profaned, loveless, and animal-like. And the broken trusts, broken marriages, and broken lives that rise from the misuse of such a gift will never be accurately measured.

As a participant and observer of the common events of life, the sights, sounds, and sighs of a crushed humanity prove the need for a preached and redemptive gospel. From among the broken there is no balm for the havoc we humans have wreaked upon ourselves.

Make no mistake here, the misuse of things does not automatically make things inherently evil. But watching the tide of human behavior, it seems most everything we possess for our betterment has also been used for our downfall. The power of darkness, or the absence of light, perverts the rightness of creation, abuses the discoveries of science, and douses the sparks of positive ingenuity.

From music that soothes us, to matches that light our campfires, we also hear lyrics that dehumanize our souls and we suffer fires destroying forests and wildlife habitat. And with exciting health remedies found in the wonders of new-found medicines, lie also the excesses of addiction and the ravaging debilitation of the human frame.

But with all the innumerable things we exercise power over there’s no “thing” affecting human life more than that little “thing” lurking between our teeth. Apart from a new birth, the tongue is an unruly tyrant, a tool of offense and avid brewer of conflict. Without accountability and without filter, the tongue is devoid of equanimity and lacks perspective. Yet, though the tongue gets a bad rap, it’s really not the tongue at all. In the finality, that small member of the human body is steered only from the depths of one’s own heart. Fresh water is never found in oceans, and salt water never flows from mountain streams. And from cataloging myriad attempts to corral it, we find no law can govern the tongue, and the best of men are incapable of managing its effects.

But remember that the first words of creation were piercing words of action, words of overcoming, words of faith and light. Those four powerful words, “Let there be light” shook the emptiness of a vacuous nothingness, and the heavens and earth became a tangible realm of divine glory.

Furthermore, as the Word created a universe from utter darkness, so the Word entered creation as Light piercing the spiritual darkness ruling every human heart. Sincere, true, and life-giving, the words flowing from this Man healed sinners and evil spirits fled from His presence. No man ever spoke like this man, for there has never been a man like Him. In Him was life and the life we saw and read of was eternally the light of men.

Only in Christ do we find the true purpose and power of that little “thing” called the tongue. Measured, edifying, and graceful we see the speech of the Master the epitome of conversational effectiveness. Impartial, free of manipulation, and humble we admire the fruit this Man’s words have on mankind. His words shattered the pomp and eloquence of proud men, for theirs were but imitations of the true. But the words He spoke were demonstrated in the Life He lived, and the Father of all glory confirmed His testimony with unimagined power.

Words matter. Every word carries intent. Every word has an origin and destination. Words build, or words tear down. Words encourage, or words cause hearts to fail. Words deescalate tension, or words fuel fear and anxiety. Words bridge continents of misunderstanding, or words frame relational hopelessness. Words break down walls of separation, or words undergird the cause of alienation. Words calm troubled seas, or words declare our powerlessness in dealing with them. Words dissolve fears, or words perpetuate them. Words save us, or words damn us. Words matter.

Refuse to Worry

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” Matthew 6:26-27

It was early in the morning. Sunlight was streaming through the window and the smell of freshly ground coffee filled the air. My six and seven-year-olds were awake and my husband was sitting at our farmhouse table working on his company laptop. I suddenly heard the baby whimper on the monitor and went to get her from her bassinet. When we walked back into the dining room she was greeted, like normal, with a song from her Daddy. The song, this particular day, was a familiar one by Bob Marley: “Don’t worry, about a thing, ‘cause every little thing, is gonna be alright.” At the sound of his voice, a smile spread across her sweet face. My seven year-old daughter then said, “yeah, I don’t think she’s worried about anything.”

What about you? Are you worried about something today? I don’t know what’s happening in your life that might be causing you to worry, but I do know how real that temptation can be.

When my third child was born, this past December, my husband and I both had Covid-19. Her birth, and the days before and after, were not like I had prayed for, hoped, or imagined. My husband was not permitted with me in the operating room for the c-section/birth and we spent weeks isolated from our family and friends with a newborn and two young kids. I didn’t know when healing would come, or strength would return. I didn’t know if my children were in the clear or if their little bodies would soon fight the same illness. In full transparency, my battle against worry during those weeks were more intense than any I had faced before.

But God, in His loving kindness, gently reminded me of Matthew 6:24, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” I remembered that His instruction is to not worry about tomorrow. So, we took it one day at a time. Each day we asked for His peace and joy to come and worry to flee. We invited Him into hospital rooms, doctors’ appointments, and our home. We asked Him for supernatural covering over our children, healing for us, and grace for each day. We rehearsed His faithfulness and reminded each other of the unshakable truth of His character and Word. And I can say, without hesitation, His goodness did not fail us. He showed up every single day and met our needs completely.

Friends, He will do the same for you. That’s just the kind of God He is.

Our Ellie has learned, in her three short months, that Mom and Dad are dependable. She fully trusts us to meet her every need. She finds comfort, rest, and peace by being in our presence. Experience taught her not to worry. Experience with the Father is teaching me the same. I pray that we’ll refuse to worry this week as we recall His love, kindness, and power. If God takes care of the birds in the air and flowers in the field, how much more will He care for us, His sons and daughters? He is Jehovah Jireh- The God who provides for me and you.

The Fellowship of His Sufferings

Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us.

The element of suffering is as much a part of redemption as the Church’s eventual glory, thus as much of the believer’s life as it was with Christ’s. Suffering is not a titillating topic, as human flesh shudders at the very thought of such ill. Whether it’s the fear of suffering that predisposes us negatively to the idea, or because we ignorantly deem there’s little esteem or reward produced from it, in any case there’s no desire for a path that foreshadows angst, uncertainty, and difficulty.

Notwithstanding, suffering is as essential to the Christian experience as the promised outpouring of the Spirit was given at Pentecost. And in reading the narrative of the Church’s first few years, it’s obvious The Comforter was as essential to the New Testament church in facing her various troubles as the Spirit was indispensable and present in her worldwide teaching and divine giftedness.

So, it’s no surprise when many of the world’s leading philosophies on life emphasize materialism and pleasure as dominant end goals. And these appealing ideologies are not radical, as we note Paul engaged earnestly with Greek philosophies and proponents on Mars Hill in Acts 17. For example, the Epicureans espoused the dual tenets of pleasure and the absence of pain, both in stark contradiction to the uninviting pattern of Christ and the hardships of the early Church. Yet, regardless the secular wisdom of the Athenians in Paul’s day, or the megaphone messaging of today’s New Age hedonism and lust for gratification, we have the rectifying antidote for such short-term allurements.

Armed to the teeth with the everlasting Scriptures, the Church, as sole possessor and proclaimer of truth, stands to declare in living color the privilege and power of suffering for Christ.

In Hebrews 11: 25-26, the record of Moses states unequivocally his choice regarding the riches of two available worlds, “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26) Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.” As the builder of the Tabernacle and lawgiver of the Old Testament, Moses shouldered faithfully the mantle of suffering, adversity, ignominy, and reproach. And records reflect that in the 40-year span of governing the Israelites (from the exodus of Egypt to the reign of Joshua and the entering of the Promised Land), Moses neglected not the duties of his leadership, neither was he an example of the complaining and murmuring evident among the multitude he led out.

Furthermore, as giver of the Word of life and builder of the Church, Jesus modeled faithfulness through the most uncomfortable and painful sufferings known to humankind. With prophecies in abundance as to the suffering of the coming Messiah and with eye witnesses to the reproach and dangers He faced when He did appear (and especially the horrors He experienced in His death), the testimony of Christ’s hardships, sorrows, and perils stand alone in contrast with the common troubles of other men. Christ chose to follow His Father’s will when no one else would or could, and when others ran from the very cross He eventually died on, He stayed the course and stood in the gap for us all.

It was in the moments of great peril that Christ found His greatest pleasure. There, in the suffering, was the purpose and beauty of His life revealed. There, in the essence of divine purpose, that He found true joy. He lived, not for Himself, but rather to please the will of Him who sent Him. No other life management philosophy will ever compete with the practices of the One the Father sanctioned. A lifestyle of such rigor and selflessness would never gain a semblance of followers, unless of course those followers were born of His divine lineage and taught at His sandaled feet.

So, it is through impending and inevitable hardships and persecution that the Church is graced to bear consistent witness of His unworldly love and power. On the horizon, evening storm clouds of difficulty gather and dark nights of isolation and intimidation are brewing for the North American church. Thankfully, few American churches have felt the sting of government and ideological intrusion into the spiritual affairs of church doctrine and practice, but the winds of opposition to Christ and His Body are gaining strength. The fury of Satan is revving up, as his envy of a glorious and rapturous church is his greatest fear. It’s imperative that we renew our minds and prepare our hearts for the confusing, divisive, and fiery persecution just ahead. We must never lessen our loyalty to Christ for the lessening of danger or difficulty. He didn’t, neither will His Church.

What if we are not called to suffer on a cross as Christ did, or suffer on the Isle of Patmos as John did, or suffer martyrdom as Paul and many others did years ago? Are we to miss the intimacy of the “fellowship of His sufferings”? Are we not called to “suffer with Him that we might reign with Him”? Yes, of course! In fact, “everyone who lives godly will suffer persecution”! The truth is that we will all face opposition, yet the degree of persecution may differ through varying circumstances.

How then are we to suffer for Christ when our particulars differ and the restraints on evil vary? I posed this question to a very pregnant daughter of mine and her candid view on suffering came through difficulties experienced for their soon-to-be-delivered baby boy. Listening to her, I got it. I got it. Perceiving from her point of view, it’s clear that the best way to be benefited from suffering is to suffer for another’s wellbeing. Is it odd that the Savior would live from that perspective and usher the Kingdom under such caring protocols?

To suffer with Christ is to:

• Forgive when we’d rather fight
• Learn when we’d rather teach
• Obey when we’d rather argue
• Pray when we’d rather complain
• Be quiet when we’d rather scream
• Be patient when we’d rather ridicule
• Forbear when we’d rather revile
• Reconcile when we’d like to avenge
• Move on when we’d rather pour fuel
• Love when we’d rather move on
• Forget when we’d rather take notes
• Trust when we’d rather question
• Serve when we’d rather be served
• Speak the truth in love when we’d rather just speak the truth
• Do good when others won’t 
• Give when we’re running short
• Submit when we’d rather rise up
• Communicate better when they’re not listening
• Fast when strength is required
• Rejoice when life seems unworkable

Just a few handfuls of opportunities for those who would rather make Jesus famous than feel better, or have the last word, or be concerned with what others might say or whether they’ll appreciate the gesture, or whether there’ll be a mutual understanding, or whether they will see me as a pushover, or whether there will be a handshake, bear-hug, or proverbial knife in the back. Just do what Jesus did and the outcomes of such choices are glorious.

While suffering with Christ is not a complicated process, neither are such actions in the world common. And while the rewards for suffering with Him are beyond riches, the manner in which they’re offered is left in our hands. Thus, the simplicity of doing what He did, saying what He said, thinking what He thought, and trusting that His Father had His back are left with us to choose. With Easter right around the corner and the miracle of resurrection in our minds, I’d say His example in suffering is worthy of imitation.

Growing Small

Psalm 131:2 Surely, I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.

Reflecting at length on the Sunday morning messages of late, the idea of spiritual maturity being measured by the childlike virtues of quietness, reliance, and contentment have struck a vibrant and timely chord. With many religious voices elevating the ego as a virtue to be cherished, and with raw physicality gaining idolatrous attention, and with human effort being substituted for the faith of God, the remembrance of a few choice scriptures promoting childlike faith and trust offers much needed confirmation and consolation.

Peter exhorts us in 1Peter2:2-3 to “lay aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2) as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby…” The holy inference is that development among believers is determined primarily by an increased, enthused desire for the word of God. For believers to be fed the Word as babies are necessarily fed milk is to see firstly the child’s total dependence on the love and faithfulness of the mother or caretaker. The infant is neither concerned, nor able, to protect himself or provide the necessities the young child requires. Essentially, that sweetly dimpled little bundle of joy brings nothing to the proverbial table but an incessant appetite and a messy diaper! However, at that stage, any loving mother would be totally satisfied with the way things are progressing. She’s simply happy that he eats, poops, and sleeps!

Thus, how important it is that we relinquish appetites that compromise our strengths and swerve our direction from sources outside the simple sustenance of Christ. Being born again from the Word of God means that our diet must contain only the elements of our divine origin. It’s humbling for sure, and we may miss some “onions, peppers, and spices” the outside world offers, but growth and development in Christ is ensured when we resist the toxins found in unhealthy menus. A life consisting of the “whole foods” approach of holy scripture is the central component of spiritual health and promised success!

And have we not all been benefitted by Paul’s letter to the Ephesians in chapter 6- “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.” For at the foundation of any people group lies systems of government and prescribed order that keeps a civil society running smoothly and free from fragmentation. Marriages, families, communities, nations, and churches enact rules and standards that hold members within social gatherings accountable to other members within that particular group. From there, the blessings of peace, compatibility and myriad benefits become proof of submission to constitutions and frameworks of acceptable behavior. Obedience to uniform norms then is a requirement for a stable lifestyle and from which the disobedient are also properly separated and addressed.

So, how important it is that believers subject themselves to the eternal regimen of scriptural rightness. How could the Kingdom of God ever operate in its promised breadth and strength, without the discipline of righteousness, ordained leadership, and the ever-abiding Holy Spirit? Hebrews 5:8 uses Christ’s example of submission to the will of God quite clearly- “Though he were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered.” Obviously, then, even the flesh of Christ was kept in check by the comfort and help of the Holy Spirit! How much more are we also residing presently in temporal, mortal bodies! And how much more are we to be empowered by the Spirit unto an obedient and subservient mind to Christ’s pattern! As a child looks to the words and mannerisms of trusted parents for understanding and acceptance, so Kingdom-minded children of faith are subject to the heavenly model of Christ!

We remember also the disciples questioning Jesus in Matthew 18 as to who would be promoted, and who would be the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. His unvarnished response was a straight right hand to the soft underbelly of our human pride and dignity. Perfectly unbothered by their rebuttals and unflinching as to the upside-down concept of humility required for Kingdom service, His answer left them squirming and perplexed. And His answer was as impossible to fulfill as His demand was that a man be born again. For the very idea that childlikeness would be the litmus test for Kingdom greatness never originated from man. Furthermore, being amazed at His wisdom and insight, we wonder at times if even our questions are appropriate. But in any case, Jesus’ answers were known to be original and provocative. Following Jesus’ ministry through the scriptures, we quickly understand that questions or answers from Him usually generate even greater wonder and inquiry.

So, how important it is that we learn the process whereby promotion is offered within the Kingdom of God. The kingdoms and systems of this world teach upward mobility through self-aggrandizement, pride, and independence. Boasting of one’s accomplishments, self-promotion, and demeaning of others climbing the ladder of prestige and recognition may bring elevation to those obsessed with this present age, but they are despised tactics in the realm of Christ. Servant mindedness and a desire to remain unknown have been the modus operandi of saints from the cradle of Pentecost. Since His ascension, a desire for Christ’s name to be revered and a willingness to serve unappreciated and unrewarded for His sake have been the hallmarks of those He redeems. Perhaps, humility has become the cornerstone of charity, the elite virtue of God-likeness.

David’s understanding of destructive pride compared with the glory of childlikeness is seen beautifully in Psalms 131:2. “Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother; my soul is even as a weaned child.” Not that it’d make a huge difference, knowing the commonness of all flesh, but seeing this verse written from the perspective of a king is inspiring. We remember well David’s early exploits and the reputation he built from the sheep fields of his father. And the relational dysfunction that arose from Saul’s envy of his favored position with the people provide rich enlightenment to David’s penchant towards patience and humility. But to see the humbleness of Christ in the character of an aspiring king is especially challenging. With the pressures of exclusive power, with the government of a sovereign nation in his hands, with economics and military issues at his discretion, with family and children obligations, with temple and religious duties, with worship and lyrical knowledge in his heart- with all this and he was still confidently unmoved by these constant responsibilities and pressures! In a nutshell, David found the key to life- simply rest in the promises of God’s care for His own! David learned to descend to the position of a child at rest with his mom, and he knew God would exalt him to the highest level of divine commendation! No wonder this king became simply a “man after God’s own heart!”

So, it’s when we release the duty of feeding ourselves, cease promoting ourselves, stop directing our own course, and refuse to assume the role of God in the affairs of human life that we find the peace promised His children. It seems paradoxical, but most everything God asks of us is a mystery, an extremely odd way of doing life; but nothing is more important, and more difficult, than the idea of releasing control of our own destinies! David was weaned of self-importance, of worlds to conquer, of offenses to settle, of wealth to acquire, and he was weaned of the power of another’s opinion. When the struggles of life became mountainous and heavy, David found the joy of worship through a remembrance of the calmness and tranquility of a child resting on the breast of an adoring mother.

Little children, may the joy of growing small, of surrendering more, of losing without complaining, of loving sincerely the unlovable, of serving merely for the sake of Christ, and for lifting the heavy burdens of the cast down, be our common quest. And may this Spirit of Christ sustain us, comfort us, encourage us, and inspire us till we see Him again!

Looking Unto Jesus

Phil3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

With Joshua at the helm Israel crossed the Jordan River into their promised land, well aware that 7 hostile nations were awaiting, warlike nations larger and far mightier than themselves. The Israelite conquest of those supposedly superior foes is fascinating and their victories provide invaluable insight into the spiritual battles of today’s Christian. The faith-driven possession of a land promised to a family centuries before gives intriguing case studies for those living in the Kingdom of God under Christ’s spiritual reign.

At the outset of Israel’s entrance into the Land, God commanded that every nation inhabiting the land of Canaan be utterly destroyed. The intent was that in the annihilation of those occupying nations, there would be no residue of their pagan influence or of their possible insurrection years later. For Israel to enjoy and reap the full benefits of the land, they, with God’s help, would drive out militant forces that were obstacles to the prosperity and legacy the land now offered.

In order to better understand the wiles of Satan and the untrustworthiness of our own flesh, we should know that each of the ‘ite’ nations that opposed Israel’s ordained presence in the Land (the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Girgashites, Jebusites, and Perrizites), possessed certain characteristics drawn from their ancestral names and situational significance. And for believers to overcome the battles of today, know that each of those nations symbolize adverse foes awaiting those who through faith are entering the Kingdom of God.

Consider this: Would God have given inordinate details of those contentious nations if their battles and spiritual significance had no bearing to Christ and the Church? Certainly not! They each possess extraordinary lessons regarding the Kingdom’s assignment in today’s anti-Christ culture.

Though the Girgashites were historically less prominent in scripture than other “ite” nations, the meaning of their name demands that we New Testament believers be forever aware of their spiritual connotations. With the double meaning of “one who returns from a journey” and “one who dwells in clay soil”, it appears their name, when precisely defined, points directly to the devilish spirit of backsliding and an unacceptable return to former, earthy behaviors.

Quitting or turning back is not a popular topic on the public speaking circuit these days, but it’s a hot topic among the powers of hell and dark principalities that seek our destruction. And from examining the scriptures, Satan has used the power of temporal distractions to revert many to former things and lifestyles that detract from the abundant life given us.

No one is exempt from the presence of the Girgashite giants that seek to return us to temporal earthiness. Wherever there’s tension and choices are to be made, without the Holy Spirit’s help our flesh will cave to the earthy gravity of self-interests and momentary pleasures. It’s only when we are focusing on Jesus that we overcome the constant temptation of turning and looking back.

Remember that in Matthew 14, it didn’t take a month of stormy weather for Peter to change from walking on the water to being overwhelmed by it. From seeing a bold Jesus to seeing the boisterous waves, one momentary shift in focus changed his status! So, yes, an altered focus can alter a lifetime!

Remember in Exodus 14, there, the death dealing chariots of Pharaoh were barreling down so that Israel wished they were back in Egypt. One day they were happy to leave an insufferable, tyrannical bondage, and the next day they wished they were back under the whips! Lesson learned? Be more aware of the faith that’s taking us somewhere than the fears that may be chasing us! If not, yesterday’s shackles could be our present-day reality! Where one looks… matters!

And in 2Samuel 11, David, perhaps the staunchest and most revered of the chosen, even David can wind up with the wrong woman if the view from the porch isn’t well sanctified! A needed break from the labors of ministry is oft needed, but a brief sabbatical should never cause us to neglect the ongoing battle of faith! Always remember, the Girgashite spirit uses earthy situations to turn our eyes from our heavenly focus! Destroy their effects root and branch!

Whether in the daily discipline of prayer and the word, to the cultivation of our gifts and calling, to the roles of motherhood or fatherhood, to the faithfulness of marriage and church life, to the importance of giving and hospitality, to the excellence of work and the punctuality required therein, to the value of being compassionate and kind, to the awareness of fitting words, to the worthiness of praise towards God, and the edification of lifting up another, to the understanding of knowing Christ versus the vanity of following forms and rituals- understand that in every facet of life, Girgashite-style attempts to diminish fervency and zeal in things that matter most will always be present! To shrink back or even look back would be unprofitable and uncharacteristic of our sonship. For us, to live at all is to but magnify Christ!

So, let the record of Christ reflect this truth- any and all nefarious attempts to weaken the testimony of those rooted in Him will be forthrightly overcome by faith in the appropriate and perfectly designed promises of God! There is no foe in this life that faith in God will not have that enemy swallowed up in victory, from a melancholy Monday to the seemingly terminal depths of death itself! There is a victory that overcomes every persuasion of the world and that is faith- the faith of God that quenches every fiery dart and disarms every strong-armed spear thrower!

Looking unto Jesus is the antidote for every turnaround. Put Him in the viewfinder of faith and any passion or attraction toward a return to the swamplands of yesterday are quickly doused. We are too close to home to lose steam and the rewards of faith are too rich to sell out to the tinsel of this world’s glory. Run with patience the race set before us, and in so doing the rear-view mirror will be a useless thing. And if you can’t run right now, then stand. Standing is proof there’s no quit in us, it’s just a moment to wipe our faces and catch our second wind. And from the firmness of a faith check stand, we’ll re-lace our spiritual sneakers and press toward the prize found in the matchless grace and presence of Christ. This approach to our advancement in the Land of Promise matches perfectly our identity and pedigree found in Jesus Christ.