Through the eyes of faith

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). Paul viewed whatever happened to him through the eyes of faith like Moses, who, according to Hebrews 11, "left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the King; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen" (11:27). Like Moses, Paul endured the hard times by focusing on the eternal. He used his trials as reminders to focus on things not seen. When your heart is right, you can do that. 

Awhile back Cynthia and I traveled to Houston for an Insight for Living event. While there we enjoyed a brief visit to the home of some good friends. Being down in the city in which I was reared reminded me of a home she and I had been in many years before. The place had a huge stone fireplace, big enough to crawl into. I relish those rare occasions when I can sit by a roaring fire and read or listen to classical music. I'm a fireplace guy!

Anyway, etched into the massive piece of timber that formed the mantle of that magnificent fireplace were these words:

"If your heart is cold, my fire cannot warm it."

Cynthia and I will never forget those words above that great stone hearth. There's no fire in the world that can warm a cold heart. A cold heart stays riveted on the hardship and refuses to see beyond the present. Paul's heart blazed with the fire of faith, allowing him to see the unseen. That's what kept him together under pressure. His heart stayed warm. Nothing of what touched Paul externally would cool him deep within. Rather, it fueled his inner flame. The longer the persecution continued, the hotter his fire for God. He focused on the One who works His eternal purposes in the unseen realm when all around him gave way. Adversity strengthens our faith, consuming the dross of fear and unbelief as it melts away doubts. ~ Charles Swindoll

"Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1 NIV). old on to faith! #fueltheflame #faith

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I have hope

And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them. I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul (Jeremiah 32:38-41)

This world often times feels hopeless. But when I recall your promises, oh faithful god, I have HOPE. Thank you for your Word that convicts and comforts me. Thank you for your steadfastness that assures me. Thank you for Jesus, my Rock, my one way, Amen.

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Perfect Peace

There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind (Ecclesiastes 2:24-26).

Do you ever wonder sometimes...why all the struggle? Relationships with spouses, kids, friends, and colleagues are often challenging and sometimes seem impossible. Why all the striving? Wake up each morning, get the kids ready for school, go to work, come home and run kids to activities, go to bed, wake up and do the same thing day after day. Or another biggie, why do good things happen to "bad" people and bad things happen to "good" people? Don't worry - you're not alone. 

I've only walked this planet for 46 years and I have made the deduction that only God knows the answer to many questions. "Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart" (1 Corinthians 4:5). In fact, if we were having coffee across from each other now, we could probably get into a long and interesting discussion about what's good and bad, positive and negative, but I think it would be best to leave it at that for today (smile).

Which brings me to another thought, why is it that one person who has so much can be so miserable and another have so little and be completely filled with joy? That verse from  Ecclesiastes 2 seems to explain things very well. I've seen it in my own life. Decades ago I thought I had the best job, best marriage, best kids, best life. It wasn't until a couple years into being "lulled to sleep" in my self-absorbed world that I got a wake up call. My business failed, I lost my second job (yes, two jobs but always broke), and therefore lost my house. During the "fat times" in life, I seem to get easily distracted and step away from spending quality time with God and away from nurturing our relationship. As soon as life came crashing down, I quickly returned my focus back where it belonged all along.

Let's clear the air. Am I saying all these terrible things happened because God made it happen? Of course not - bad decisions and bad economies happen to us all. But I am also confident of this one thing - nothing comes to my life without passing through His fingers FIRST. He allows them for my good - I just have clearer vision and less distractions during the "lean times". 

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

Since this trying season, I see things through a different filter. A filter of grace, mercy, and new perspective. My shock and anger was replaced with peace and gratitude. How? Renewed FOCUS. As I spent more time in God's Word, peace that surpasses understanding truly poured over me. 

"...do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7). 

What are you going through today? I can't pretend to know your exact pain or heartache. But I can assure you, He does. Look up. When we focus on our circumstances - horizontal focus, we are filled with anxiety. But when we keep our eyes on our faithful God of the universe - vertical focus, He is the only One who gives us peace and joy. I pray that He will open your eyes to this same truth "For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy..." 

Amen. 

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Just Ask

Just. Ask.

25 I am laid low in the dust;

    preserve my life according to your word.

26 I gave an account of my ways and you answered me;

    teach me your decrees.

27 Cause me to understand the way of your precepts,

    that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds.

28 My soul is weary with sorrow;

    strengthen me according to your word.

29 Keep me from deceitful ways;

    be gracious to me and teach me your law.

30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness;

    I have set my heart on your laws.

31 I hold fast to your statutes, Lord;

    do not let me be put to shame.

32 I run in the path of your commands,

    for you have broadened my understanding.

33 Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees,

    that I may follow it to the end.[b]

34 Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law

    and obey it with all my heart.

35 Direct me in the path of your commands,

    for there I find delight.

36 Turn my heart toward your statutes

    and not toward selfish gain.

37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things;

    preserve my life according to your word.[c]

38 Fulfill your promise to your servant,

    so that you may be feared.

39 Take away the disgrace I dread,

    for your laws are good.

40 How I long for your precepts!

    In your righteousness preserve my life 

(Psalm 119:25-40).

I normally study from ESV, but this morning I'm compelled to share with you a passage from Psalm 119 in the NIV Bible. I hear so often that people are afraid to ask God for things because they either feel too blessed already or they're just not willing. It's so clear to me in the Psalms and throughout the Bible, that we are called to seek Him. Ask.

So many times we put God in a box the size of our biggest problem. We forget that we are speaking to a God without limits. "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him." Ask. 

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:7-11). 

Ask.

In just this one short passage from the longest psalm in the Bible, Psalm 119, I found 14 requests that David made:

1) give me life;

2) make me understand;

3) strengthen me;

4) put false ways away from me;

5) let me not be put to shame;

6) enlarge my heart;

7) teach me;

8) give me understanding;

9) lead me;

10) incline my heart;

11) turn my eyes;

12) confirm to your servant;

13) turn away the reproach; and

14) give me life

Beautiful. Stop doubting. Just ask. Does He answer in exactly the way I anticipate? Rarely. 

He wants to be invited into every area of our lives - from the menial to the major.  The public and the hidden things. Do you understand that? Do you BELIEVE that? 

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you (1 Peter 5:6-7).

I'll be praying for you to be be BOLD in your prayers. To be EXPECTANT in your prayers. And most of all to be CHANGED by your prayers. He's the potter and we are the clay. May your heart and mind be transformed by the asking. 

God bless. 

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It's all about the climb

The Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. 

Exodus 19:20

Did you catch that? 

The Lord came down to the top of the mountain. God called him...and Moses went up to the top of the mountain. 

We probably all have the dad or grandfather who told us about his hardship in life as he was growing up..."You think you have it hard…try walking back-and-forth to school every day through the snow FIVE miles uphill BOTH ways!" 

I've never climbed a literal mountain...unless you count walking the steep fairway of the 27th hole on a 90° day while golfing as a kid. Lol. It sure felt like a mountain! 

But I have watched from afar, the actual climbs my friends, Daren Falter, Chris Medina, and Ricky Fountain did at Mount Adams and Mount Rainier, and I am flabbergasted. Ascending to 14,410 feet above sea level, Mount Rainier stands as an icon in the Washington landscape. The physical and mental strength required to complete the feat doesn't happen overnight. It takes months of training physically, and years of training mentally. They say the desire to quit can overtake you in a moment. I can't imagine. 

What I CAN imagine and HAVE experienced personally, are the mountains we climb in life. 

• Overwhelming debt
• Poor health
• Loss of jobs
• Death of a loved one
• ...the list goes on and on...

Maybe Forest Gump said it best, "Life is like a box of chocolates...you never know what you're gonna get." I've seen highs and I've seen lows in all these areas. One thing I know for sure as I look back - I would truly not appreciate the heights of joy, if I had not first experienced the depths of sorrow. 

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4)

This prayer from one of my favorite pastors, can speak for all of us:  "Lord God, I trust You, and I’m going to wait for Your timing. I need peace without resolution. The end isn’t in sight, God, and I need rest during this season of hardship. My resources aren’t sufficient, my wisdom can’t plot a way out, and my ingenuity can’t remove the pressure. But You know all about that. You saw it coming, chose to allow it, and promise to use it for my good. I want my thoughts to reflect a greater confidence in You. Forgive me for the times I’ve strived to do too much, and forgive me for the times I’ve worried and doubted You. Teach me to trust and wait. You know when, God. I choose to trust You and wait for You to act. Please give me rest and peace, in the name of Jesus, “for he himself is our peace” (Ephesians 2:14a), amen."

Wherever you are, put your trust in Creator God who gives and takes away. He allows hardships to come into our lives because of the person it causes us to become in the process. Someone once told me that when you look at the back of a knitting or crochet project, it looks like a mess. But when you flip it over, the beauty can take your breath away. That's life. When you look at yourself "in the process", it looks and feels like a mess. But when you're finally through the refiners fire, you're perfect and complete, lacking nothing - beautiful. 

We serve a God who is calling us to the top of the mountain. 

Let's start climbing.

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Just DO it

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers . And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved (Acts 2:42-47). 

I love reading The Acts of the Apostles, written by Dr. Luke. I love that Luke's works serves as a clear bridge between the life of Christ to the church of Christ. Verse 47 jumps out at me. All of the apostles effort in sharing the gospel...the Lord is the one responsible for the outcome. I hope that gives you more clarity today. For me - it's the hope for health with Yoli. For you it may be something entirely different. Regardless of what kind of work you do, He's the one who gives the favor. He's the one who gives the outcome. Just DO it -whatever He's given you to do and wherever He's asked you to go, just DO it in faith and watch Him do His work! Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. you are serving the Lord Christ (Colossians 3:23-24). It's in Jesus name I pray these things, Amen. 

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