Seeing that we are in the last days of 2011 I could not resist bringing up a topic which was probably the most resounding I had heard all year. I have heard it from friends, family and even radio personalities. I saying is "I cannot wait for the rapture."
I sit back and lament about this, those who have said it and even the reason for why it has been said. The truth is it is one thing I am very cautious to say because I must check my motives for what I say. If it does not fall in check with godly intent it will not fall from my lips. Trust me this does not mean I am super spiritual nor does it mean I do not say some foolish or insensitive things without thinking. It only goes to show that if I know the conscience intent of something I must weigh out the motive of what and why I am saying it.
Prime example, here are just a sample of some of the reasons for what I have heard just this year for Christ's return or the rapture/last days. The other day I had the radio on and the man speaking stated "I wish the rapture would happen already as I am tired of this nonsense with the election already." The quotes have gone from everything from wanting the rapture and the last days because of the loss of a family member, bad economy, loss of a job, tired of the circumstances of life and so much more.
Honestly if any of these things were my motivation for the rapture I am sorry to say but it is wrong. Truth be known, 2011 has been by far one of the worst years of my life as I look at it today. The reality is will I be able to say that ten years from now after God has opened my eyes just a little more on the situation and where He has brought me?
I love how Psalm 118:24 puts it; "This us the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."
If we focus our attention on the discomfort of the state we are currently in our desire for Christ's true return has been deflected from bring God glory to that of our own selfish gain. This should not be!
So as the year comes to a close let me remind you the reason for Christ's coming. This is what is reassuring when we are reeling in pain of our journey.
" A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of." John 10:10 (Message)
Seeing that the reason for Christ's coming is founded on that of having a more, better and eternal life should be the energy needed to enter tomorrow or even next year with the excitement of what God had in store for you. The truth is Christ's return has the exact same purpose for you in order to see God glorified through YOUR life. You are the beneficiary of a larger picture.
See it as a puzzle. Without the sum of the pieces the picture cannot be finished. If those pieces are not ready to be in place all is lost and the purpose is irrelevant.
So in turn, yes I long for Christ's return, for the last days and for the rapture, but I long greater for God's purpose to be fulfilled in my life and hear Him say "Well done!"
If you have lost hope or are worn out because of the beat down and battering ram of this past year let me leave you with a verse. The Psalmist continued in 118 with the following.
25 Save now, I pray, O LORD;
O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity.
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!
We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.
27 God is the LORD,
And He has given us light;
Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will praise You;
You are my God, I will exalt You.
29 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
As we enter a new year let me say that this is my prayer for you. I pray that God will send you prosperity from His house, that you will realize His blessing and in turn praise Him seeing that His mercy for you lasts forever. Do not give up hope. God has been with you every step of the way this past year and is committed to be there every step of the way next year until He returns.
Be blessed this coming year!
CAL
Friday, December 30, 2011
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Finding Baby Jesus
Just yesterday as I was driving to work I was reminded of a memory that brought tears to my eyes and that endless sigh to my soul. As I listened to the radio, the DJ said something about baby Jesus. I don't know what it was, but I found myself reaching back to Christmas past.
I had not thought much about it in years due to the separation and divorce that ravaged my family, but here I was crying over a good memory of the past and honestly it hurt. When the kids were very little, and it still brings tears to my eyes, my wife and I would talk to the children about baby Jesus coming for Christmas. As Ann and I talked about it we decided to make things more real and interactive for the kids. In doing so we decided to find a baby doll, wrap him in a cloth diaper and put him in a little basket with hay in it Christmas Eve after the kids went to bed.
For a week before Christmas the kids would talk non-stop about being so excited about finding baby Jesus under the tree. When people would ask our kids what they wanted for Christmas all they would say was "I'm excited because baby Jesus is coming." They would talk to each other about holding him, kissing him and not being able to wait to see him.
As Christmas Eve came Ann and I would scurry to make sure baby Jesus was put in the basket leading us to the 2:00 AM search and destroy missions to make sure he was there. The most rewarding thing was seeing the reaction of the kids. Here is Christmas Day and our children were so enamored with baby Jesus that their gifts were almost meaningless and even argued who would be first to hold the baby. For the next couple hours and even in to the next several days the kids guarded and took care of baby Jesus until we had to put him away for the next year.
As Christmas is just around the corner the question remains are you looking for Jesus with full anticipation or are you sitting on the sidelines? If you are looking for Jesus are you seeking Him putting all other things aside looking forward to spending hours with Him?
Jeremiah 33:3 reads, "Call on me and I will show you great and mighty things that you do not yet know." Some interpretations say "things that will blow your mind!"
God is looking for a people who has a heart, hunger and desire for Him. He is looking for someone who cannot wait to see what He alone has for their life.
Reflecting on those fond memories with my family are things I cannot forget. I cannot forget the passion and conversations and even opportunities of talking about Jesus with my kids and seeing the excitement they had for God's gift, Jesus even above the gifts they were given.
John 3:16-
"For God so loved the world (YOU) that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."
This Christmas accept God's greatest gift for you; Jesus. Wait with excitement and anticipation on Him as a child. Reflect on God's goodness and if it is hard to see that, call on Him and He will show you things that will blow your mind!
Merry Christmas!
CAL
I had not thought much about it in years due to the separation and divorce that ravaged my family, but here I was crying over a good memory of the past and honestly it hurt. When the kids were very little, and it still brings tears to my eyes, my wife and I would talk to the children about baby Jesus coming for Christmas. As Ann and I talked about it we decided to make things more real and interactive for the kids. In doing so we decided to find a baby doll, wrap him in a cloth diaper and put him in a little basket with hay in it Christmas Eve after the kids went to bed.
For a week before Christmas the kids would talk non-stop about being so excited about finding baby Jesus under the tree. When people would ask our kids what they wanted for Christmas all they would say was "I'm excited because baby Jesus is coming." They would talk to each other about holding him, kissing him and not being able to wait to see him.
As Christmas Eve came Ann and I would scurry to make sure baby Jesus was put in the basket leading us to the 2:00 AM search and destroy missions to make sure he was there. The most rewarding thing was seeing the reaction of the kids. Here is Christmas Day and our children were so enamored with baby Jesus that their gifts were almost meaningless and even argued who would be first to hold the baby. For the next couple hours and even in to the next several days the kids guarded and took care of baby Jesus until we had to put him away for the next year.
As Christmas is just around the corner the question remains are you looking for Jesus with full anticipation or are you sitting on the sidelines? If you are looking for Jesus are you seeking Him putting all other things aside looking forward to spending hours with Him?
Jeremiah 33:3 reads, "Call on me and I will show you great and mighty things that you do not yet know." Some interpretations say "things that will blow your mind!"
God is looking for a people who has a heart, hunger and desire for Him. He is looking for someone who cannot wait to see what He alone has for their life.
Reflecting on those fond memories with my family are things I cannot forget. I cannot forget the passion and conversations and even opportunities of talking about Jesus with my kids and seeing the excitement they had for God's gift, Jesus even above the gifts they were given.
John 3:16-
"For God so loved the world (YOU) that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."
This Christmas accept God's greatest gift for you; Jesus. Wait with excitement and anticipation on Him as a child. Reflect on God's goodness and if it is hard to see that, call on Him and He will show you things that will blow your mind!
Merry Christmas!
CAL
Sunday, November 13, 2011
The Prodigal's Father
This Blog is prefaced due the possiblity that the content may be misinterpreted. As some may think that the story of the Prodigal Son protains only to the relationship between God and the sinnful Christian. I ask that you read on and look a little deeper at this story. This blog is not written as a Christian allegory or theological rhetoric rather from the heart of a father and the personal experiences I have lived. This may help to give a little different perspective of the heart of God and the humanity of the God we serve as we are made in His likeness.
As I have been going down an amazingly, incredibly, difficult journey over the past couple years and even more intensely over the past few months, God keeps talking to me about the story of the Prodigal Son, but not from the son's position rather from the Father's position.
As I have been going down an amazingly, incredibly, difficult journey over the past couple years and even more intensely over the past few months, God keeps talking to me about the story of the Prodigal Son, but not from the son's position rather from the Father's position.
The story starts in Luke 15-
The Story of the Lost Son
11-12Then he said, "There was once a man who had two sons. The younger said to his father, 'Father, I want right now what's coming to me.'
12-16"So the father divided the property between them. It wasn't long before the younger son packed his bags and left for a distant country. There, undisciplined and dissipated, he wasted everything he had. After he had gone through all his money, there was a bad famine all through that country and he began to hurt. He signed on with a citizen there who assigned him to his fields to slop the pigs. He was so hungry he would have eaten the corncobs in the pig slop, but no one would give him any.
17-20"That brought him to his senses. He said, 'All those farmhands working for my father sit down to three meals a day, and here I am starving to death. I'm going back to my father. I'll say to him, Father, I've sinned against God, I've sinned before you; I don't deserve to be called your son. Take me on as a hired hand.' He got right up and went home to his father.
20-21"When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him. The son started his speech: 'Father, I've sinned against God, I've sinned before you; I don't deserve to be called your son ever again.'
22-24"But the father wasn't listening. He was calling to the servants, 'Quick. Bring a clean set of clothes and dress him. Put the family ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Then get a grain-fed heifer and roast it. We're going to feast! We're going to have a wonderful time! My son is here—given up for dead and now alive! Given up for lost and now found!' And they began to have a wonderful time.
25-27"All this time his older son was out in the field. When the day's work was done he came in. As he approached the house, he heard the music and dancing. Calling over one of the houseboys, he asked what was going on. He told him, 'Your brother came home. Your father has ordered a feast—barbecued beef!—because he has him home safe and sound.'
28-30"The older brother stalked off in an angry sulk and refused to join in. His father came out and tried to talk to him, but he wouldn't listen. The son said, 'Look how many years I've stayed here serving you, never giving you one moment of grief, but have you ever thrown a party for me and my friends? Then this son of yours who has thrown away your money on whores shows up and you go all out with a feast!'
31-32"His father said, 'Son, you don't understand. You're with me all the time, and everything that is mine is yours—but this is a wonderful time, and we had to celebrate. This brother of yours was dead, and he's alive! He was lost, and he's found!'"
As I have sat and pondered the scope of this story I realized a couple things that happened with the father. Being a father and knowing what it is like to be married, love deep and being divorced this story hits me very hard. You see the father let his son go allowing himself to take on the rejection. He didn't try to reason, beg or plead with his son. Instead he found that he was willing to release his son whether it was for rebellion, defiance, hatred, bitterness or selfishness. Christ does not tell us what the reason for the son leaving other than he just left.
As you read on the father never gave up hope on his son. Instead he proceeded in preparation for his return. I know that the father anguished over his son's decision because he understood the pain his son would be experiencing as well as the pain and problems his sin would entail.
With the way the father responded to his son it is evident that he thought exhaustively about his son. He may have many nights where he tossed and turned praying to God for his return. Maybe he even thought about going out to look for him. What did he do though? He waited for his son's return. When it happened his return was more amazing than one could imagine. In fact the father described it as if his son where dead; he was lost and now found.
Going through divorce and in some ways having a loved one die this feeling can be very well share. Maybe your spouse walked out the door telling you that they wanted what is rightfully theirs. Maybe you are the surviving spouse who the night before their passing ended up in a fight only to find that they are now gone.
Regardless the position the heart is still the same; as longing for your loss. There is a deep desire to right a wrong or a struggle to have avoided the outcome.
Again look at the Prodigal Son's father. He was at a loss. He never gave up on his son. Instead he longed for that reunion again one day and prepared for that time.
I implore you, as I must do as well in my loss, not to give up hope. Do not allow this loss to trap you into the unknown loosing sight of both God's goodness and one of His most important names; "I Am."
Understand I say what I do through the more than 5 losses to me this year. I know too well the pain, the sorrow, the sleepless nights and yes even those times of "God do you hear me and understand my broken heart?"
The only way I can make it, is by knowing that He is my hope and strength. No matter how grime your situation God's plans are still true and planned before your existence. This includes the restoration in brokenness, loss, pain, rejection and yes even divorce and death.
Understand that healing and restoration do not happen over night but over time.
To those struggling with death, rest assured that God has not forgotten you. It is in your pain that God's glory shines through you and a hope on the other side of this life is there.
For those who struggle with the loss through divorce, there is hope. Prepare for what God has in store as it will blow your mind with what He will do. Never give up on your spouse or family as they are now in God's hands and you are called to love and forgive through the process.
For those whose child has rejected them, get ready for their return. Someone who knows Godly standards cannot run far for God's hand. As God's Word says "He will turn the hearts of the father back to their children." Likewise God can and will turn the hearts of the children back to their father. A child always desires the approval and blessing of their father regardless.
Stand strong in preparation of His restoration and the eventual return of the one who is gone. God will make all things new again and in doing so much better than you can prepare.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Being Nancy Drew
A couple weeks ago (I know my daughter won't be happy with me telling this story) I ended up sending some gifts to my daughter and her mother for their birthdays. In the process I used shredded paper from my diamond cut paper shredder. I needed to pack the items with something as the contents were fragile.
I had received two text messages. The first was to tell me that even with my precautions the content was received broken. The next one had to do with a question from my daughter asking why I used shredded paper from the shredder. As I asked what her concern was, she revealed that she had taken scraps of the paper and put it together finding her name and my son's name on an email to my wife from a few years ago.
My first thought was I was amazed at her persistence to put the paper together. I did not know there was any such thing in the packing, but as I assured her regardless the act was unintentional and was not meant for harm, but protection.
As I pondered further about this God showed me this is the way we are. He has an amazing gift wrapped up for us and we ignore the content because our Nancy Drew side comes out during the hard times.
We look at the fragments of our journey trying to piece it all together to see what God is doing and why we are going through what we are doing. We totally negate the plans, goals and promises within the box only for the goal to find out why. Why am I going through this? We see a fragment of our name going down this dark road and assume that there is only bad ahead and God's intent is leading us down a dark road. We find it more important to make sense of the journey rather than hold fast to the promise.
It is like we must know in order to out maneuver God's path and goodness for us. What we are really say though is "God I don't trust you promises and good that are the best for my life." We are not willing to submit our will to God fully and hold onto His promises thinking there has to be a better way.
The book of Exodus should show us otherwise. God allowed two men; Caleb and Joshua the opportunity to reveal God's truth for the Children of Israel. In turn the people where so frightened they wanted to kill the messengers and do their own thing not trusting for God's best even though they had seen God come through time and again. As a result 45 years past and an entire generation was wiped out. Do you ever think what would had happened is they resolved to hold to God's promise regardless how impossible or difficult it seemed.
Forward if you would to Christ in the Garden of Gathsemine. Christ asked God the Father to let the cup pass from Him if possible. He was asking is there another way because I know this is difficult. God did not change the plans and Christ held onto the promise which resulted in your freedom from sin.
I now look as a father to my daughter. She sees the path she is on is hard and looks at the fragments saying I see this and that and what I think is going to happen can only be bad. All I can say though is what is in the box? Do you trust me? Do you see the gift I have for you?
It is too easy to loose track of the blessings and promises especially when things have been so dark. We need to resolve to hold on to His promises regardless how dark the path.
Here are a few promises to hold onto. First in Jeremiah 1:7-12 God tells Jeremiah that He knows the plans for Jeremiah and not to diminish who he is. Later in Jeremiah 29 God reminds him again I know the plans I have for you. This still holds true to you.
If this is not enough flip to Psalm 23. When one of my friends challenged me to study and hold fast to that verse I found out something new. God does not say He will deliver us from the Valley of the Shadow of Death. Instead He would lead us into it and allow us to enjoy a feast in the presence of our enemies. When I thought about it I thought how stressful it would be to eat dinner in the same dining room as one who would want to cause me great harm or even death?
When I looked at the verse a little more God asks "Do you trust me?" The reality is when we know He is in control He puts up a shield to protect us so we can enjoy His promise regardless how dark the situation.
CAL
I had received two text messages. The first was to tell me that even with my precautions the content was received broken. The next one had to do with a question from my daughter asking why I used shredded paper from the shredder. As I asked what her concern was, she revealed that she had taken scraps of the paper and put it together finding her name and my son's name on an email to my wife from a few years ago.
My first thought was I was amazed at her persistence to put the paper together. I did not know there was any such thing in the packing, but as I assured her regardless the act was unintentional and was not meant for harm, but protection.
As I pondered further about this God showed me this is the way we are. He has an amazing gift wrapped up for us and we ignore the content because our Nancy Drew side comes out during the hard times.
We look at the fragments of our journey trying to piece it all together to see what God is doing and why we are going through what we are doing. We totally negate the plans, goals and promises within the box only for the goal to find out why. Why am I going through this? We see a fragment of our name going down this dark road and assume that there is only bad ahead and God's intent is leading us down a dark road. We find it more important to make sense of the journey rather than hold fast to the promise.
It is like we must know in order to out maneuver God's path and goodness for us. What we are really say though is "God I don't trust you promises and good that are the best for my life." We are not willing to submit our will to God fully and hold onto His promises thinking there has to be a better way.
The book of Exodus should show us otherwise. God allowed two men; Caleb and Joshua the opportunity to reveal God's truth for the Children of Israel. In turn the people where so frightened they wanted to kill the messengers and do their own thing not trusting for God's best even though they had seen God come through time and again. As a result 45 years past and an entire generation was wiped out. Do you ever think what would had happened is they resolved to hold to God's promise regardless how impossible or difficult it seemed.
Forward if you would to Christ in the Garden of Gathsemine. Christ asked God the Father to let the cup pass from Him if possible. He was asking is there another way because I know this is difficult. God did not change the plans and Christ held onto the promise which resulted in your freedom from sin.
I now look as a father to my daughter. She sees the path she is on is hard and looks at the fragments saying I see this and that and what I think is going to happen can only be bad. All I can say though is what is in the box? Do you trust me? Do you see the gift I have for you?
It is too easy to loose track of the blessings and promises especially when things have been so dark. We need to resolve to hold on to His promises regardless how dark the path.
Here are a few promises to hold onto. First in Jeremiah 1:7-12 God tells Jeremiah that He knows the plans for Jeremiah and not to diminish who he is. Later in Jeremiah 29 God reminds him again I know the plans I have for you. This still holds true to you.
If this is not enough flip to Psalm 23. When one of my friends challenged me to study and hold fast to that verse I found out something new. God does not say He will deliver us from the Valley of the Shadow of Death. Instead He would lead us into it and allow us to enjoy a feast in the presence of our enemies. When I thought about it I thought how stressful it would be to eat dinner in the same dining room as one who would want to cause me great harm or even death?
When I looked at the verse a little more God asks "Do you trust me?" The reality is when we know He is in control He puts up a shield to protect us so we can enjoy His promise regardless how dark the situation.
CAL
Saturday, August 20, 2011
I Know the Plans…
As I am sitting at Starbucks (yes my home away from home) could not help but think “What are the plans for my life?” As I pondered my question a song from Martha Munizzi came to mind; “For I Know.” I am not going to go through the song as I would usually do, but it is based off of Jeremiah 29:11.
CAL
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
As many may know reading through my posts music is by far one of the areas I speak from the most. Martha starts off with referring to this verse, but goes one step further. The line that speaks volumes to me has to be “…for you can’t see what tomorrow holds and yesterday is through, I know the plans I have for you.”
We end up declaring the verse of God knowing the plans for us, but do we declare His promises for what we are going through? Too often, especially in hard times, we run around scared about our future or the things that are ailing us today and completely forget what God’s promises are for our lives.
Here are some of the promises to hold on to. I am giving you hope for your sorrows (Esther ). I will NEVER leave you (Duet. 31:6). I will give you strength for all you are going through (Ps. 29:11). These are just a few promises and I encourage you to look for more in the situation you are going through.
Here is the challenge I want to give you in the situation which seems hopeless that you may be going through; call on God! As I was having a devotional the other day I opened up to Jeremiah 33:3.
When I was in youth group I remember the youth pastor talking about this verse as “God’s phone number.” Now (wow 25 plus years later) I still reflect on that comment and wanted to look at this verse just a little deeper so I started with verse one and went to verse thirteen. Well take a look and I will explain my point.
1 While Jeremiah was still locked up in jail, a second Message from God was given to him: 2-3"This is God's Message, the God who made earth, made it livable and lasting, known everywhere as God: 'Call to me and I will answer you. I'll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.' 4-5"This is what God, the God of Israel, has to say about what's going on in this city, about the homes of both people and kings that have been demolished, about all the ravages of war and the killing by the Chaldeans, and about the streets littered with the dead bodies of those killed because of my raging anger—about all that's happened because the evil actions in this city have turned my stomach in disgust.
6-9"But now take another look. I'm going to give this city a thorough renovation, working a true healing inside and out. I'm going to show them life whole, life brimming with blessings. I'll restore everything that was lost to Judah Jerusalem Jerusalem
10-11"Yes, God's Message: 'You're going to look at this place, these empty and desolate towns of Judah and streets of Jerusalem, and say, "A wasteland. Unlivable. Not even a dog could live here." But the time is coming when you're going to hear laughter and celebration, marriage festivities, people exclaiming, "Thank God-of-the-Angel-Armies. He's so good! His love never quits," as they bring thank offerings into God's Temple
12-13"God-of-the-Angel-Armies says: 'This coming desolation, unfit for even a stray dog, is once again going to become a pasture for shepherds who care for their flocks. You'll see flocks everywhere—in the mountains around the towns of the Shephelah and Negev , all over the territory of Benjamin Jerusalem Judah
These sets of verses have much more to them then just “God’s Phone Number.” To understand the full scope of the verses you have to understand the background. Here is Jeremiah who was thrown into jail for speaking what God promised because it offended those in charge. At one low point he was going to be put to death because what God revealed was, by the human eye, impossible to achieve and was considered threatening. It is also the second time God has revealed to Jeremiah the plans God had in store not only for his life but for future generations.
Here are a few things that stood out to me. God starts off with a promise to a people filled with sin. If they do just one thing, call on Him for forgiveness, He will open up His plans. As you continue on you find out that God lays out His plan and says “His stomach is turned with disgust” because of the evil things that have gone on with His people.
As I read on I noticed something rather interesting. God acknowledged the baroness and desolation of His people in the hard time and says that, I must say I love this part;He is going to give a thorough renovation, bring healing from the inside out and bring whole life where there is only desolation. If that were not enough He was bringing forgiveness of sin and scrubbing away the dirt as if it never happened.
Now think about this. Can you imagine a blessing or plan that can take your current situation and change it in a way that looks as if it never happened? I am not talking a surgery which can deliver you from pain and discomfort. I am talking a reversal of the situation and turn it on its head!
Here is the key to this promise if you didn’t catch it. This is what God showed me through this set of verses; blessing comes through forgiveness. Without true forgiveness there is no healing. It is through healing that will find restoration and blessing.
Being from the construction industry great satisfaction comes in restoring something, in my case houses and buildings. The greatest satisfaction though comes when the restoration is so good you cannot distinguish the restoration from the original. That is the goal of the restorer. That is God’s goal for you!
Maybe your hard time, time of desolation, has brought you to the point of not being able to forgive someone for what they did. As I stated to my pastor the other day I am so hurt by what someone has done to me I cannot even come to the point of praying for them. What I found out though thinking about it is the pain is so great that I am having a difficult time forgiving and in doing so not being able to heal in order to receive that restoration transformation God has in store.
I challenge you to reflect on this hard time. Why is it hard? Is it because of something you have done, maybe a lack of trusting God’s promises or probably that of not willing or being able to forgive someone for what they did or continue to do to you? Think about the situation and ask God to reveal everything from different perspective.
Call on Him. You will be surprised what things He has to show you!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Let Hope Arise
Have you ever felt that all hope is lost? You look under the bed, not there. Maybe it is in that mountain of boxes in the garage you forgot about many years ago, not there either.
Here is a portion of a text message I sent to my pastor about my day today.
"Hard to hold fast to God's promises when it feels as all hope has been sucked from the very marrow of your bones." Have you ever had a day or worse yet (as in my case) a year that has felt like that?
Maybe you feel like Bill Murray waking up to that silly Sonny & Cher song "I Got You Babe" only to feel that bad day is just the same old repetitious day. Unfortunately some of us find that day turns into a week then a year and don't sneeze because now it is a decade.
For the past several weeks my pastor has been talking about being a giant killer. Here is the issue though; we are all called to be giant killers. The first giant we are called to kill is our own fear of inadequacy. Funny enough my pastor stated it is our "but" that gets in our way from succeeding in God's plans for our lives.
This is where the heading comes into play. We are called to let hope arise.
As I was driving home from church yesterday a song came on called "With Everything." Let me share with you a couple lines from the song that did not stand out but screamed out.
With Everything
Let hope rise
And darkness tremble
In Your holy light
Every eye will see
Jesus our God
Great and mighty to be praised
When I heard this I could not help but think hope cannot arise until we get to the point of making Darkness tremble. Here is the exciting thing; YOU are the light of the world!
Matthew 5:14
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Jesus didn't just stop with us being the light of the world. He finished with likening you to a city set on a hill which cannot be hidden. Do you believe this or have you allowed the darkness/dark times consume you?
Until we confront the darkness and doubt in our life can we not fully understand that we are the hope in a dying world created with a purpose for God to be glorified through us.
God is calling YOU to let hope arise or better yet explode out of YOU. In order to do that though we must do a couple things.
First confront the giant of darkness. You may ask how to do so. Well look at Joshua and when the Israelites crossed theJordan
God has a purpose for you to stand unmovable in hard times as a stone. Don't think of yourself and those things God has done through you as just a pebble. No on the contrary you are large in God's picture.
InIllinois Illinois
God has given us the drive to stand resilient as a stone in the midst of battle, but He will not let you starve. He wants for you to look toward the hope which is set before you and to stand firm on His promises. It is His plan that you will hold onto His promises made yesterday, in the present and for the future both for yourself and for generations to come.
When you catch the fact that your life is so important that it makes the enemy's knees bucket and darkness tremble you understand that the plan God has included you in is far greater than your problem of today. In fact it is what drove Elijah to out run Jezebel and Ahab's chariots after a long drought and seeing the cloud the size of a man's hand.
Get ready; the drought will not last forever. He has not left us to starve. He has allowed that cloud the size of a man's hand to bring vitality back into those dry areas of your life. Get ready to out run the chariots of the enemy. Get ready to allow hope arise and darkness tremble. YOU are a the light of the world set as a city on the top of the hill, a beacon of hope for God's continued promises.
LET HOPE ARISE!
CAL
Here is a portion of a text message I sent to my pastor about my day today.
"Hard to hold fast to God's promises when it feels as all hope has been sucked from the very marrow of your bones." Have you ever had a day or worse yet (as in my case) a year that has felt like that?
Maybe you feel like Bill Murray waking up to that silly Sonny & Cher song "I Got You Babe" only to feel that bad day is just the same old repetitious day. Unfortunately some of us find that day turns into a week then a year and don't sneeze because now it is a decade.
For the past several weeks my pastor has been talking about being a giant killer. Here is the issue though; we are all called to be giant killers. The first giant we are called to kill is our own fear of inadequacy. Funny enough my pastor stated it is our "but" that gets in our way from succeeding in God's plans for our lives.
This is where the heading comes into play. We are called to let hope arise.
As I was driving home from church yesterday a song came on called "With Everything." Let me share with you a couple lines from the song that did not stand out but screamed out.
With Everything
Let hope rise
And darkness tremble
In Your holy light
Every eye will see
Jesus our God
Great and mighty to be praised
When I heard this I could not help but think hope cannot arise until we get to the point of making Darkness tremble. Here is the exciting thing; YOU are the light of the world!
Matthew 5:14
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Jesus didn't just stop with us being the light of the world. He finished with likening you to a city set on a hill which cannot be hidden. Do you believe this or have you allowed the darkness/dark times consume you?
Until we confront the darkness and doubt in our life can we not fully understand that we are the hope in a dying world created with a purpose for God to be glorified through us.
God is calling YOU to let hope arise or better yet explode out of YOU. In order to do that though we must do a couple things.
First confront the giant of darkness. You may ask how to do so. Well look at Joshua and when the Israelites crossed the
God has a purpose for you to stand unmovable in hard times as a stone. Don't think of yourself and those things God has done through you as just a pebble. No on the contrary you are large in God's picture.
In
God has given us the drive to stand resilient as a stone in the midst of battle, but He will not let you starve. He wants for you to look toward the hope which is set before you and to stand firm on His promises. It is His plan that you will hold onto His promises made yesterday, in the present and for the future both for yourself and for generations to come.
When you catch the fact that your life is so important that it makes the enemy's knees bucket and darkness tremble you understand that the plan God has included you in is far greater than your problem of today. In fact it is what drove Elijah to out run Jezebel and Ahab's chariots after a long drought and seeing the cloud the size of a man's hand.
Get ready; the drought will not last forever. He has not left us to starve. He has allowed that cloud the size of a man's hand to bring vitality back into those dry areas of your life. Get ready to out run the chariots of the enemy. Get ready to allow hope arise and darkness tremble. YOU are a the light of the world set as a city on the top of the hill, a beacon of hope for God's continued promises.
LET HOPE ARISE!
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Statistic or Testimony?
Are you a statistic or a testimony? (This is a long one)
This is one thing I ask myself each day as I wake up.
You may wonder why I called the blog "Forged Together." About year and a half ago I was cleaning my apartment when I heard God say to me that He would give me a ministry to call marriages back to healing from their brokeness. As I was listening to what I heard I was told that marriage was meant to be "forged together."
Late that night I was thinking about this word I received and I remembered a scene from “Lord of the Rings-Return of the King,” where there was a sword that was broken called the “Shards of Narci” by the evil one. This sword was forged back together to conquer evil. The sword was given to Aragorn for battle. Upon wheeling the sword a line is said that is very interesting “I give hope to all men.”
When I looked up what it meant to be forged together I was stunned. To be forged together is to be reshaped under extreme heat and pressure.
Marriage is no different. For those who have been married for any number of years you realize that the pressure, heat and beating you are under is far greater than anything you could ever anticipate.
The funny thing is so is divorce. The bad thing is divorce turns you into that of the shards of Narci. Unless you are willing to go through the intense heat and allow yourself to be reshaped by God you find yourself useless in battle or part of the walking wounded at best.
As I talked to a friend today the imfamous question and comment came up. I have no idea how many times I have heard this, but it is more than I can care to count; no disrespect to those that ask. (I must be careful how I approach this for the protection of my family and wife).
Here is the question I was asked and the comment that was said to me many times before. "Chris, I am so shocked at what has happened in the life of your family. What happened? Looking at your family we felt you to be the role model of a godly family for us. When we thought of how we wanted our family and marriage to be; we wanted to be just like you." No disrespect to those who have said this or even thought this, but it made me realize that our lives are one of two things a statistic or a testimony.
Here is the difference between being a statistic or a testimony (remember you will be remembered as one or the other). A statistic is one who goes with the crowd, falls to the pressures of life and when they are dead and gone are nothing more than a fleeting thought. On the other hand being a testimony is someone who has left a lasting impression and a legacy that is not easily forgotten.
Putting it into simple terms a statistic would be the tombstone in the cemetary as the testimony would be the inscription upon the stone. If you are to read what is written on the stone it is much easier to remember than the stone itself whether it is by color, shape or size.
I was a little curious to see what the effects of divorce was from country to country. I sat down and took 5 countries based on popularity and population. The countries I chose were 4 of the top ten most populated countries and the fifth one being the highest rate of divorce in Europe. Here is my findings which may surprise you as it did me.
China: #1 in population in the world with more than 1.3 billion people. The number of divorces in 2010 totalled 1.058 million people or about 24% of marriages ending in divorce. This is about 8.14% of their entire population. They raked at #17 out of 35 nations for divorce.
Brazil: #6 in population in the world with more than 169 million people. The number of divorces in 2010 totalled 43,940 people. This is about 0.026% (less than 1%) of the entire population or less than 2% of marriages ending in divorce.. They ranked at #33 out of 35 nations for divorce.
Russia: #8 in population in the world with more than 143 million people. The number of divorces in 2010 totalled 480,161 people. This is about 0.34% of their entire population or about 43.3% of marriages ending in divorce. They raked at #3 out of 35 nations for divorce.
England: Having just under 52 million people rank #4 in the world or #1 in Europe in divorce with just over 158,000 people. This is about 0.30% of their entire population or 42.6% of marriages ending in divorce.
USA: The US is by far the most sobbering place for divorces in the world. With more than 311 million people there is more than 1.5 million marriages ending in divorce. This is about .5% of the population as a whole but more than 54.8% of all marriages ending in divorce.
(Nationmaster.com)
After looking at the state by state demographics the numbers vary across the board ranging from as low in some states as 43% to as high as 63% (National Vital Statistics Report, August 27, 2010). This should be of great concern as a country that is to be the leading nation in the world. The unfortunate thing is we are leading in the wrong way.
You may look at these numbers and say "That's just part of life." The question really is "Is THIS part of YOUR life?" As the world goes so do our lifes, our morals and our thinking. This is not what God has called us to. The second we ignore the effects things have on our socity, it is too late to protect ourselves and families from those same dangers that are on our door steps.
You would not lock yourself in your house if you know that it is in the path of a mud slide would you? Then why do you ignore those things that come to kill, steal and distroy that which we were given by God; our lives and our families?
Matthew 5:14-16
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
So again I ask you "Are you a statistic or a testimony? Are you going to shine the light of truth or just fade into the darken?"
CAL
This is one thing I ask myself each day as I wake up.
You may wonder why I called the blog "Forged Together." About year and a half ago I was cleaning my apartment when I heard God say to me that He would give me a ministry to call marriages back to healing from their brokeness. As I was listening to what I heard I was told that marriage was meant to be "forged together."
Late that night I was thinking about this word I received and I remembered a scene from “Lord of the Rings-Return of the King,” where there was a sword that was broken called the “Shards of Narci” by the evil one. This sword was forged back together to conquer evil. The sword was given to Aragorn for battle. Upon wheeling the sword a line is said that is very interesting “I give hope to all men.”
When I looked up what it meant to be forged together I was stunned. To be forged together is to be reshaped under extreme heat and pressure.
Marriage is no different. For those who have been married for any number of years you realize that the pressure, heat and beating you are under is far greater than anything you could ever anticipate.
The funny thing is so is divorce. The bad thing is divorce turns you into that of the shards of Narci. Unless you are willing to go through the intense heat and allow yourself to be reshaped by God you find yourself useless in battle or part of the walking wounded at best.
As I talked to a friend today the imfamous question and comment came up. I have no idea how many times I have heard this, but it is more than I can care to count; no disrespect to those that ask. (I must be careful how I approach this for the protection of my family and wife).
Here is the question I was asked and the comment that was said to me many times before. "Chris, I am so shocked at what has happened in the life of your family. What happened? Looking at your family we felt you to be the role model of a godly family for us. When we thought of how we wanted our family and marriage to be; we wanted to be just like you." No disrespect to those who have said this or even thought this, but it made me realize that our lives are one of two things a statistic or a testimony.
Here is the difference between being a statistic or a testimony (remember you will be remembered as one or the other). A statistic is one who goes with the crowd, falls to the pressures of life and when they are dead and gone are nothing more than a fleeting thought. On the other hand being a testimony is someone who has left a lasting impression and a legacy that is not easily forgotten.
Putting it into simple terms a statistic would be the tombstone in the cemetary as the testimony would be the inscription upon the stone. If you are to read what is written on the stone it is much easier to remember than the stone itself whether it is by color, shape or size.
I was a little curious to see what the effects of divorce was from country to country. I sat down and took 5 countries based on popularity and population. The countries I chose were 4 of the top ten most populated countries and the fifth one being the highest rate of divorce in Europe. Here is my findings which may surprise you as it did me.
China: #1 in population in the world with more than 1.3 billion people. The number of divorces in 2010 totalled 1.058 million people or about 24% of marriages ending in divorce. This is about 8.14% of their entire population. They raked at #17 out of 35 nations for divorce.
Brazil: #6 in population in the world with more than 169 million people. The number of divorces in 2010 totalled 43,940 people. This is about 0.026% (less than 1%) of the entire population or less than 2% of marriages ending in divorce.. They ranked at #33 out of 35 nations for divorce.
Russia: #8 in population in the world with more than 143 million people. The number of divorces in 2010 totalled 480,161 people. This is about 0.34% of their entire population or about 43.3% of marriages ending in divorce. They raked at #3 out of 35 nations for divorce.
England: Having just under 52 million people rank #4 in the world or #1 in Europe in divorce with just over 158,000 people. This is about 0.30% of their entire population or 42.6% of marriages ending in divorce.
USA: The US is by far the most sobbering place for divorces in the world. With more than 311 million people there is more than 1.5 million marriages ending in divorce. This is about .5% of the population as a whole but more than 54.8% of all marriages ending in divorce.
(Nationmaster.com)
After looking at the state by state demographics the numbers vary across the board ranging from as low in some states as 43% to as high as 63% (National Vital Statistics Report, August 27, 2010). This should be of great concern as a country that is to be the leading nation in the world. The unfortunate thing is we are leading in the wrong way.
You may look at these numbers and say "That's just part of life." The question really is "Is THIS part of YOUR life?" As the world goes so do our lifes, our morals and our thinking. This is not what God has called us to. The second we ignore the effects things have on our socity, it is too late to protect ourselves and families from those same dangers that are on our door steps.
You would not lock yourself in your house if you know that it is in the path of a mud slide would you? Then why do you ignore those things that come to kill, steal and distroy that which we were given by God; our lives and our families?
Matthew 5:14-16
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
So again I ask you "Are you a statistic or a testimony? Are you going to shine the light of truth or just fade into the darken?"
CAL
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Letters To God
A couple months ago my children told me about a movie they watched and really liked. The movie is called "Letters To God." Trust me if you watch it make sure you have a box of tissues at hand as well as an Advil.
The movie deals with a child dying of cancer who brings hope and joy to others with his letters he sends to God through the US Postal Service. The young boy knows he is going to die, but his family cannot come to terms with the fact seeing that just three years earlier the father/husband died of cancer.
The movie was excellent, but that was not what caught my eye as much as what was at the end. Here is what I found in the movie that stuck in my mind.
2 Corinthians 3:2-3
You yourselves are all the endorsement we need. Your very lives are a letter that anyone can read by just looking at you. Christ himself wrote it—not with ink, but with God's living Spirit; not chiseled into stone, but carved into human lives—and we publish it.
Prior to watching the movie I spend the majority of the day mowing grass at my church. As I sat there riding on the mower I found myself getting consumed by depression due to all of the tragedies that have bestowed me over the past 18 months and just loosing hope in everything. The feelings of guilt and shame overshadowed me and haunted me to the point of loosing focus on God's promises as had been given in my life.
You see over the past 48 hours I have been finding myself tormented by dreams and sorrow just over my family and many other things. When it seems as if your life has just imploded by the strength of an atomic bomb you start to loose the vision of what God has in store for you and even get to the point of loosing sight of His promises for you.
The reality, which was found for me in the movie came back to that verse as well as a comment stated by the boy with cancer. He stated to his mother to not loose hope because God chose her to be his mom.
Very powerful! God has chose us for the journey at hand regardless how hard it is and how hopeless it may seem. You are that living letter. Sometimes there are things that are painful as other times there are things to bring joy. The truth is God has not forgotten you He chose you for the challenges because He believes that you can do it and make it to the other side.
Take a look at what Jeremiah was told by God who doubted his abilities and the journey he was about to go through.
Jeremiah 1:5-8
5"Before I shaped you in the womb,
I knew all about you.
Before you saw the light of day,
I had holy plans for you:
A prophet to the nations—
that's what I had in mind for you."
6But I said, "Hold it, Master God! Look at me.
I don't know anything. I'm only a boy!"
7-8God told me, "Don't say, 'I'm only a boy.'
I'll tell you where to go and you'll go there.
I'll tell you what to say and you'll say it.
Don't be afraid of a soul.
I'll be right there, looking after you."
God's Decree.
God knows our journey and knows the hits we are going to endure. But do you know He also knows the victories we will achieve if we stay the course and the rewards that are on the other side? Sometimes we stop at the fact that God knows the issues we will go through giving the enemy the opportunity to doubt Gods end product for our lives.
This is the way we need to look at it. For those who do not know me I like to cook as much as I do eat. When making something you must prepare all of the ingredients to a dish, add them together at the proper time and cook at the proper heat and time. Not following the steps or diverting from the directions can result in a catastrophic disaster. The earlier you catch the problem the better chance you have to have an end product that is perfect in the end.
The other day I made pasta sauce. I never made it because I defaulted to that being my wife's specialty and was nervous to venture out. As I reflected on what I observed and what I have tasted I came up with a product that turned out good. If we allow our fears to dictate our directions or desires we will never be on the road to where God needs us to be, missing out on His blessings.
God wrote His plans on your life before you where even born. It was not by hap-chance, but by divine design. Furthermore the things you go through and experience are not a punishment or something by chance but by divine desire for God's glory through your life.
Think about it, you are a chapter in a volume of books in God's library that He cherishes. The question remains do you want your life to be just a footnote or do you want it to reflect a chapter of adventure.
I believe we are either a testimony or a statistic. Which do you want to be?
CAL
The movie deals with a child dying of cancer who brings hope and joy to others with his letters he sends to God through the US Postal Service. The young boy knows he is going to die, but his family cannot come to terms with the fact seeing that just three years earlier the father/husband died of cancer.
The movie was excellent, but that was not what caught my eye as much as what was at the end. Here is what I found in the movie that stuck in my mind.
2 Corinthians 3:2-3
You yourselves are all the endorsement we need. Your very lives are a letter that anyone can read by just looking at you. Christ himself wrote it—not with ink, but with God's living Spirit; not chiseled into stone, but carved into human lives—and we publish it.
Prior to watching the movie I spend the majority of the day mowing grass at my church. As I sat there riding on the mower I found myself getting consumed by depression due to all of the tragedies that have bestowed me over the past 18 months and just loosing hope in everything. The feelings of guilt and shame overshadowed me and haunted me to the point of loosing focus on God's promises as had been given in my life.
You see over the past 48 hours I have been finding myself tormented by dreams and sorrow just over my family and many other things. When it seems as if your life has just imploded by the strength of an atomic bomb you start to loose the vision of what God has in store for you and even get to the point of loosing sight of His promises for you.
The reality, which was found for me in the movie came back to that verse as well as a comment stated by the boy with cancer. He stated to his mother to not loose hope because God chose her to be his mom.
Very powerful! God has chose us for the journey at hand regardless how hard it is and how hopeless it may seem. You are that living letter. Sometimes there are things that are painful as other times there are things to bring joy. The truth is God has not forgotten you He chose you for the challenges because He believes that you can do it and make it to the other side.
Take a look at what Jeremiah was told by God who doubted his abilities and the journey he was about to go through.
Jeremiah 1:5-8
5"Before I shaped you in the womb,
I knew all about you.
Before you saw the light of day,
I had holy plans for you:
A prophet to the nations—
that's what I had in mind for you."
6But I said, "Hold it, Master God! Look at me.
I don't know anything. I'm only a boy!"
7-8God told me, "Don't say, 'I'm only a boy.'
I'll tell you where to go and you'll go there.
I'll tell you what to say and you'll say it.
Don't be afraid of a soul.
I'll be right there, looking after you."
God's Decree.
God knows our journey and knows the hits we are going to endure. But do you know He also knows the victories we will achieve if we stay the course and the rewards that are on the other side? Sometimes we stop at the fact that God knows the issues we will go through giving the enemy the opportunity to doubt Gods end product for our lives.
This is the way we need to look at it. For those who do not know me I like to cook as much as I do eat. When making something you must prepare all of the ingredients to a dish, add them together at the proper time and cook at the proper heat and time. Not following the steps or diverting from the directions can result in a catastrophic disaster. The earlier you catch the problem the better chance you have to have an end product that is perfect in the end.
The other day I made pasta sauce. I never made it because I defaulted to that being my wife's specialty and was nervous to venture out. As I reflected on what I observed and what I have tasted I came up with a product that turned out good. If we allow our fears to dictate our directions or desires we will never be on the road to where God needs us to be, missing out on His blessings.
God wrote His plans on your life before you where even born. It was not by hap-chance, but by divine design. Furthermore the things you go through and experience are not a punishment or something by chance but by divine desire for God's glory through your life.
Think about it, you are a chapter in a volume of books in God's library that He cherishes. The question remains do you want your life to be just a footnote or do you want it to reflect a chapter of adventure.
I believe we are either a testimony or a statistic. Which do you want to be?
CAL
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