He smiled when I finished the prayer. Even with an ultra busy schedule, I had eked out time for lunch with Phillip.
The smile-making prayer was simple: “Father God, thank you for the food. Help Phillip get a job.” Phillip especially liked the job part. We were eating at a fast-food restaurant as Phillip filled out their job application form. For completion, he only lacked his Social Security number. I said, “We can get it when I drop you off. Then I’ll bring the application back here on my way home.”
After a whirlwind of other stops, I was back at the restaurant. Handing the manager the application, she said: “We’re doing interviews between two and five.” Glancing at my watch, I felt the weight of several commitments stacked ahead of me. Yet I knew, if I didn’t drive Phillip to the interview, he wouldn’t make it.
As a tension reaction, I said: “I don’t have time.”
Heading towards my car, my prayer from a few hours ago, popped into my head. “Father God…help Phillip get a job.” Thinking: “Did I really mean that prayer?”
Yes, it was a prayer of faith. Still I knew what the Bible said: “What does it profit, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?” And another Scripture says, “Faith without works is dead.”
Now that I had prayed for Phillip, work was required to make the faith come alive. Still, faith and works were clashing as an I-can’t-do-everything thought crashed my mind. So the faith I needed was for God to give me strength.
My day finally ended at 11:30 p.m. Phillip got his ride. And a mountain of other tasks were completed. Praise God! All possible because I chose to combine faith and works.
Faith applied: it works!
9/29/07
9/22/07
GOD HEALS WITH A CAN OF TUNA
It was 2:00 a.m. Because of her ongoing sicknesses, Cathy found sleeping in her recliner more restful. Her prolonged health problems were still not effectively diagnosed.
Once again, she was unable to sleep. Cathy suddenly felt a very distinct impression from God: “I want you to start eating meat.” She had been vegetarian for thirty-three years. Now, Cathy is quick to clarify; this was a message for her. Not an edict against vegetarianism.
God continued: “Go to the pantry. There will be a can of tuna. Rinse it and eat it.” The can of tuna wasn’t unusual because Cathy’s husband was a meat eater. So without hesitation, she obeyed God in making an instant major lifestyle change.
And she admits, “I always thought my way of eating was just a little better than other people’s.” Even as she was eating the tuna, God revealed this attitude as pride. She initially resisted this admonition. But, “Within sixty second, I saw my pride,” Cathy says.
God detests pride. But Cathy claims the most vivid lesson she learned was the importance of being obedient to God.
The Bible records these words from Samuel the prophet “To obey is better than sacrifice.” These words are aimed at Saul, the king of Israel. Samuel continued: “Because you (Saul) have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.” One act of disobedience cost Saul his position as king.
Sure, it’s unlikely a person will be dethroned because of disobedience. Though you will likely miss God’s best plan for your life. Plus obedience to God has big dividends. Ask Cathy. “I regained my health in a very, very short period of time,” she says.
Need some life improvement-- big or small? Need God’s blessings? Obedience to God may be your answer.
Once again, she was unable to sleep. Cathy suddenly felt a very distinct impression from God: “I want you to start eating meat.” She had been vegetarian for thirty-three years. Now, Cathy is quick to clarify; this was a message for her. Not an edict against vegetarianism.
God continued: “Go to the pantry. There will be a can of tuna. Rinse it and eat it.” The can of tuna wasn’t unusual because Cathy’s husband was a meat eater. So without hesitation, she obeyed God in making an instant major lifestyle change.
And she admits, “I always thought my way of eating was just a little better than other people’s.” Even as she was eating the tuna, God revealed this attitude as pride. She initially resisted this admonition. But, “Within sixty second, I saw my pride,” Cathy says.
God detests pride. But Cathy claims the most vivid lesson she learned was the importance of being obedient to God.
The Bible records these words from Samuel the prophet “To obey is better than sacrifice.” These words are aimed at Saul, the king of Israel. Samuel continued: “Because you (Saul) have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.” One act of disobedience cost Saul his position as king.
Sure, it’s unlikely a person will be dethroned because of disobedience. Though you will likely miss God’s best plan for your life. Plus obedience to God has big dividends. Ask Cathy. “I regained my health in a very, very short period of time,” she says.
Need some life improvement-- big or small? Need God’s blessings? Obedience to God may be your answer.
9/15/07
WE BRAINWASH CHILDREN
“What are you going to do, brainwash the kids?” Ethan said. His sarcastic laughter revealed his non-approving bent. I didn’t respond.
I had just informed Ethan; because of Saturday’s commitment to lead the children’s service at the Free Church, attending a family get-together would be impossible.
He was half-joking, half-serious when he referred to our gathering of children to study God’s word and engage in some wholesome activities as a brainwashing session.
If I would have responded to Ethan, I might have said, “Yes we brainwash children, that’s exactly what we are doing.” I’m serious. There’s even a Biblical mandate to do so: “Do not be conformed to this world—fashioned after and adapted to its external and superficial ways. But be transformed, changed by the entire renewal of your mind.”
Even Ethan knows this is not by force. Actually, it’s very common for the kids to come running full tilt towards my vehicle when I arrive in their neighborhood for pickup. But he probably hasn’t fully considered this; everyone is being brainwashed in some way by everything they encounter daily. TV, music, computer feed, books, people---the list is nearly endless.
Yes, we brainwash the children. To follow the ways of God, to love God, to love people, to say kind words, to respect authority, to be generous, to be truthful, to honor their parents…
And like the children, we all need some degree of brainwashing-- some renewing of our minds. It’s an ongoing procedure. And like the children, we decide which sources will be the instruments of this life-changing process. The children are choosing to let God and His Word be their brainwasher.
The Bible offers a superb goal: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ.” Yes, let us all start thinking the way Jesus would.
I had just informed Ethan; because of Saturday’s commitment to lead the children’s service at the Free Church, attending a family get-together would be impossible.
He was half-joking, half-serious when he referred to our gathering of children to study God’s word and engage in some wholesome activities as a brainwashing session.
If I would have responded to Ethan, I might have said, “Yes we brainwash children, that’s exactly what we are doing.” I’m serious. There’s even a Biblical mandate to do so: “Do not be conformed to this world—fashioned after and adapted to its external and superficial ways. But be transformed, changed by the entire renewal of your mind.”
Even Ethan knows this is not by force. Actually, it’s very common for the kids to come running full tilt towards my vehicle when I arrive in their neighborhood for pickup. But he probably hasn’t fully considered this; everyone is being brainwashed in some way by everything they encounter daily. TV, music, computer feed, books, people---the list is nearly endless.
Yes, we brainwash the children. To follow the ways of God, to love God, to love people, to say kind words, to respect authority, to be generous, to be truthful, to honor their parents…
And like the children, we all need some degree of brainwashing-- some renewing of our minds. It’s an ongoing procedure. And like the children, we decide which sources will be the instruments of this life-changing process. The children are choosing to let God and His Word be their brainwasher.
The Bible offers a superb goal: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ.” Yes, let us all start thinking the way Jesus would.
9/9/07
OH WHAT DO I DESERVE?
“I got what I deserved,” Jeff said. I laughed.
We had just put ourselves through the arduous task of running three miles absolutely as fast as possible. And I’m still questioning what prompted me to bust-a-gut with two-hundred people, actually paying for the privilege of having sore legs for the next three days.
After running races, a ritual takes place. You walk up to acquaintances, asking: “So how was your race? What was your time?” Jeff’s response surprised me. A more typical response would include a reason/excuse for a slower than expected time.
Not Jeff, he admitted his pre-race training and race day effort had added up correctly: “I got what I deserved.” “Jeff,” I said “That’s so true, isn’t it?”
Jeff’s words stuck in my head for the next couple of days…what I deserve.
The Bible says, “You O LORD, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.” My mind locked onto the concept of abundant mercy.
One of my favorite preachers defines mercy this way. “Not getting what you deserve. Getting what you don’t deserve.”
Even in something as inconsequential as running a road race, I started to see the mercy of God. Does a person deserve the ability to run? Does a person deserve to have the money to enter the event? Does a person deserve…? The planet has many people who are better humans, more godly than myself; yet they lack the blessings God has released into my life. This is His mercy.
The above Scripture continues as a prayer: “Oh God, turn to me and have mercy on me! Give Your strength to Your servant.”
Need more mercy in your life? Ask in prayer. Expect to receive His mercy. And then be abundantly thankful to God.
We had just put ourselves through the arduous task of running three miles absolutely as fast as possible. And I’m still questioning what prompted me to bust-a-gut with two-hundred people, actually paying for the privilege of having sore legs for the next three days.
After running races, a ritual takes place. You walk up to acquaintances, asking: “So how was your race? What was your time?” Jeff’s response surprised me. A more typical response would include a reason/excuse for a slower than expected time.
Not Jeff, he admitted his pre-race training and race day effort had added up correctly: “I got what I deserved.” “Jeff,” I said “That’s so true, isn’t it?”
Jeff’s words stuck in my head for the next couple of days…what I deserve.
The Bible says, “You O LORD, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.” My mind locked onto the concept of abundant mercy.
One of my favorite preachers defines mercy this way. “Not getting what you deserve. Getting what you don’t deserve.”
Even in something as inconsequential as running a road race, I started to see the mercy of God. Does a person deserve the ability to run? Does a person deserve to have the money to enter the event? Does a person deserve…? The planet has many people who are better humans, more godly than myself; yet they lack the blessings God has released into my life. This is His mercy.
The above Scripture continues as a prayer: “Oh God, turn to me and have mercy on me! Give Your strength to Your servant.”
Need more mercy in your life? Ask in prayer. Expect to receive His mercy. And then be abundantly thankful to God.
9/4/07
KAY’S CARDS
She’s sent me birthday cards for the past twenty-five years. And I’ve never said thanks. Kay is my wife’s cousin. She also sends birthday cards to my wife and we always get one on our anniversary.
We started wondering: “How many cards does she send out?” There are the cousins, their husbands, maybe their kids, certainly her brothers, her parents, probably her aunts and uncles. And how about friends and co-workers?
Now these cards aren’t just signed, stamped, and out the door. We’re talking beautiful cards. The kind you look on the back to discover their origin. Inside is a hand written note crowding every speck of white space.
She ended my card with, “Love, Kay.”
She expresses her caring along with the desire to stay connected with people. But a characteristic in Kay’s life that rises as noteworthy is “enduring.” The Bible says, “Let us not become weary in doing good.”
I’ve never asked her. But this is almost guaranteed; at times she was too busy or didn’t feel like making the effort. She endured. She must have thought: does it really matter? I rarely acknowledged any appreciation. Yet she endured. For more than twenty-five years, she endured.
More than twenty-five years…
I am brought to tears as I’m reminded of my Savior, Jesus Christ who endured more than twenty-five years of effort attempting to connect with me. The Bible tells us why: “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering towards us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” I’m so thankful Jesus endured the cross. And beyond…
Thanks for all the cards Kay. You’ve reminded me to be a person of endurance. Reflecting the same unwavering endurance my Father God showed me.
We started wondering: “How many cards does she send out?” There are the cousins, their husbands, maybe their kids, certainly her brothers, her parents, probably her aunts and uncles. And how about friends and co-workers?
Now these cards aren’t just signed, stamped, and out the door. We’re talking beautiful cards. The kind you look on the back to discover their origin. Inside is a hand written note crowding every speck of white space.
She ended my card with, “Love, Kay.”
She expresses her caring along with the desire to stay connected with people. But a characteristic in Kay’s life that rises as noteworthy is “enduring.” The Bible says, “Let us not become weary in doing good.”
I’ve never asked her. But this is almost guaranteed; at times she was too busy or didn’t feel like making the effort. She endured. She must have thought: does it really matter? I rarely acknowledged any appreciation. Yet she endured. For more than twenty-five years, she endured.
More than twenty-five years…
I am brought to tears as I’m reminded of my Savior, Jesus Christ who endured more than twenty-five years of effort attempting to connect with me. The Bible tells us why: “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering towards us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” I’m so thankful Jesus endured the cross. And beyond…
Thanks for all the cards Kay. You’ve reminded me to be a person of endurance. Reflecting the same unwavering endurance my Father God showed me.
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