As ‘09 draws to a close and we get ready for ‘10 to start, many groups, businesses, organizations, etc. look back to review the previous year and set goals for the upcoming year. I’ve done this for a few years now to track how I’ve met my personal goals and set some for the upcoming year. I don’t make resolutions, just goals for things I’d like to accomplish in the upcoming year.
Looking back on last years goals, I did decent job at some items;
• Stayed jail free
• Stayed out of court (formidable task, but accomplished)
• Improved financial situation
• Daily Bible reading/devotion (85-90% at best though)
• Spent more time with family
• Displayed a kinder/gentler attitude toward others (still a work in progress)
But as always, there’s room for improvement on many items;
• Relationship with my Children improved only slightly if at all
• At times have troubles with issues from the past
• Self-forgiveness
• Tendency to be unkind/short toward others
• Waste too much time on matters that are unimportant
• My lack of trust has still caused stress in relationships
There are several items on both lists that I’ll keep private, but all in all the year was a good one. Not great, but not as bad as some in the past either.
So where do I go from here? What are my goals for the upcoming year and how can I make adjustments to improve on reaching the goals I set for the upcoming year?
I have several things that I’d like to accomplish this year. Some are recurring goals from previous years. Some are easier to accomplish than others. Some may never be accomplished, but you fail at the outset if you don’t at least try. I coached baseball for many years and if a young boy wanted to try and be a pitcher, I at least gave him the opportunity. You never know if he was good at it or not unless you gave them a shot at trying out. Just looking at them is not a good judge of whether or not they could or couldn’t do it. You have to give them a try. The same can be said for anything we want to try in life. So make a preliminary list, pray over it, think about it and see if any changes need to be made to the list. Then set out to accomplish all that you have on your list.
So far some of the goals I have are;
• Spend more time with in-depth Bible study. (less superficial study)
• Continue to rebuild the relationship with my Son Corey and my Daughter Heather. There are many difficulties involved as they have a large amount of negative influence in their lives, but I will continue to try.
• Continue to overcome shortcomings/”addictions” of the past
• Pay off my truck again this year
• Pay off the formers vehicle this year
• Continue to improve/payoff the remaining financial commitments
• Increase charitable giving
• Work to build stronger relationships
• Learn to trust others more (not everyone is out to take from you, leave you, or stab you in the back)
• Be a better pastor and devote more time to lessons/studies
• Relocate
• Get to know a certain person better and be more of a part of their life (many obstacles)
• Reach out to those who are searching or seeking and give them guidance to obtain the hope that I have and realize that there’s more to this life than eyes can see
There are a few more items that as I stated earlier will remain private, but I’ll strive to accomplish or improve on what I have listed.
As a person, I have several roles in life. Some include;
Christian
Father
Son
Brother
Uncle
Nephew
Cousin
Employee
Friend
Boss
Pastor
If I strive to accomplish my goals for the upcoming year, it can help me in every aspect of my life. Improvement in my life helps improve the life of those around me.
Goals are important in your life. Each person needs a vision of what they want in the future. In Proverbs 29:18, God says that without a vision His people perish. I recommend that each person set aside time to map out your goals for the year. Not resolutions, they often disappear by the end of January and you’ve forgotten them in a very short time. But real, long term goals for your life. If you have a vision of where you want to be, you stand a better chance of getting there. Having them written down somewhere so you come across them on a regular basis improves the chances that you can accomplish the goals and improve your life.
More to This Life
Steven Curtis Chapman
Today I watched in silence as people passed me by,
And I strained to see if there was something hidden in their eyes;
But they all looked back at me as if to say
Life just goes on.
The old familiar story told in different ways,
Make the most of your own journey from the cradle to the grave;
Dream your dreams tomorrow because today
Life must go on.
But there’s more to this life than living and dying,
More than just trying to make it through the day;
More to this life, more than these eyes alone can see,
And there’s more than this life alone can be.
Tonight he lies in silence staring into space,
And looks for ways to make tomorrow better than today,
But in the morning light it looks the same;
Life just goes on.
He takes care of his family, he takes care of his work,
And every Sunday morning he takes his place at the church;
And somehow he still feels a need to search,
But life just goes on.
So where do we start to find every part
Of what makes this life complete;
If we turn our eyes to Jesus we’ll find
Life’s true beginning is there at the cross where He died.
He died to bring us . . .
More to this life than living and dying,
More than just trying to make it through the day;
More to this life, more than these eyes alone can see,
And there’s more than this life alone can be.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Some of the Christmas Cookies Recipes
I used to cook on a regular basis. Then life changed and with church and kids, eating at home became only a few times a week. After the kids turned into teenagers, it got down to about once or twice at week when we would eat at home. Since I'm now by myself, it's too much trouble for me to cook real often because I don't have the room or the utensils to cook with and I'm getting lazier. I still love to however.
Nevertheless, during this time of year, I usually make some treats for my "wonderful" co-workers. Here's two of the more popular recipes;
Chocolate Butter Pecans
Ingredients:
Cookies:
½ cup butter
½ cup sugar
1 cup light brown sugar
1 large egg
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 ½ cups flour
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 cup pecans (finely chopped)
Chocolate Icing:
1 pound bittersweet chocolate
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
½ teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Pecans halves
Directions:
Cookies:
Preheat oven to 375°. Mix butter and sugars in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add egg, salt, and vanilla then blend. Stir in flour and chili powder and mix again. Add chopped pecans and mix to combine into a smooth mixture.
Shape dough into 1 inch balls and place onto baking sheet. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until cookies are a light brown and crisp at the edges. Cool completely.
Chocolate Icing:
Place chocolate, chili powder, cinnamon, and vanilla into a large microwave dish and heat for 30 seconds on high, stir at 10-20 second intervals and continue heating until chocolate is melted and smooth. Drizzle chocolate over cooled cookies.
Dark Chocolate Lava Drops
Ingredients:
½ cup butter
1 ounce bittersweet chocolate
¾ cup sugar
1 egg
1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
Hershey’s chocolate kisses
½ sanding sugar (regular sugar will do)
Directions:
Heat oven to 350°. Put butter and chocolate in a microwave safe bowl and microwave on high pausing every 30 seconds to stir, continue until all is melted. Let sit for 10 minutes.
Add ¾ cup sugar and egg to melted mixture mix and then add flour, baking powder, and salt. Continue mixing until the dough is smooth.
Shape into 1 inch dough balls (appx). Press chocolate kiss in dough and completely cover with dough.
Place ½ cup sugar in bowl and roll dough balls in sugar, place on cookie sheet and bake for 9-11 minutes.
Mixture should make about 24 cookies.
Good luck & enjoy,
GLW
Nevertheless, during this time of year, I usually make some treats for my "wonderful" co-workers. Here's two of the more popular recipes;
Chocolate Butter Pecans
Ingredients:
Cookies:
½ cup butter
½ cup sugar
1 cup light brown sugar
1 large egg
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 ½ cups flour
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 cup pecans (finely chopped)
Chocolate Icing:
1 pound bittersweet chocolate
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
½ teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Pecans halves
Directions:
Cookies:
Preheat oven to 375°. Mix butter and sugars in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add egg, salt, and vanilla then blend. Stir in flour and chili powder and mix again. Add chopped pecans and mix to combine into a smooth mixture.
Shape dough into 1 inch balls and place onto baking sheet. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until cookies are a light brown and crisp at the edges. Cool completely.
Chocolate Icing:
Place chocolate, chili powder, cinnamon, and vanilla into a large microwave dish and heat for 30 seconds on high, stir at 10-20 second intervals and continue heating until chocolate is melted and smooth. Drizzle chocolate over cooled cookies.
Dark Chocolate Lava Drops
Ingredients:
½ cup butter
1 ounce bittersweet chocolate
¾ cup sugar
1 egg
1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
Hershey’s chocolate kisses
½ sanding sugar (regular sugar will do)
Directions:
Heat oven to 350°. Put butter and chocolate in a microwave safe bowl and microwave on high pausing every 30 seconds to stir, continue until all is melted. Let sit for 10 minutes.
Add ¾ cup sugar and egg to melted mixture mix and then add flour, baking powder, and salt. Continue mixing until the dough is smooth.
Shape into 1 inch dough balls (appx). Press chocolate kiss in dough and completely cover with dough.
Place ½ cup sugar in bowl and roll dough balls in sugar, place on cookie sheet and bake for 9-11 minutes.
Mixture should make about 24 cookies.
Good luck & enjoy,
GLW
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Holiday Attitude Adjustment
Thanksgiving is looked on as a time to take inventory of what we have to be thankful for. But for some, it’s a time when we look back and whine about the things we have lost. We can get caught up in the trap of looking at possessions, friends, family, finances, and other things that we had, but no longer have. It distracts us, causes us to focus on past failures/loses, robs us of joy in our lives, and can make us live in a depressed state.
I can understand this even more than ever before. Despite what some may think, for most of my 45+ years, I’ve had a rather upbeat and positive outlook on life. Something may get me down, but I’m over it in short order. Not because my life has been a bed of roses without issues though. Many can attest that I’ve had my share (sometimes it seems more than my share) of difficulties; financial, family, marriage, church, health, death of a Son, lost almost everything I owned, the list is rather long. Sometimes if I dwell on the difficult times I’ve had, it can cause my attitude and personality to change. Getting beat down by life can have a devastating effect on a person. The longer you dwell on it, the greater the chance we can slide into depression thus making it harder to return to some sense of normalcy in our lives.
Friends and family can give you advice during times like these, but they can’t change our attitudes for us. The only way that can happen is for us to realize that we have to make the decision to rebound. Sometimes it seems easier to stay where we are and have a pity party, but eventually that will grow old both to you and your friends.
I battled this for some time and one day while having lunch with my best friend, he told me that I wasn’t the same person I was just a few years back. I asked him what he meant and he told me, “You’ve lost the zest and thrill for life that you once had. You either lost it or someone/something took it from you”. I told him that I’ve been through so much and that I lost a little at a time until I arrived at the point I am now. I may never get back to where I once was. He proceeded to tell me that getting to where I am may not have been anything I had control over, but getting out of there is something I do have control over. You can sit and sour or you can take the initiative to change. He’s been an influence in my life for over 40 years, the older we get the more positive thankfully. In I Thessalonians 5:18, Jesus tells us to give thanks in every circumstance. Sometimes things happen and we don’t know how to find anything to be thankful for, but we can always look at ways that it could have been worse. We’re to give thanks in everything, not for everything. Not many would be thankful for getting a broken arm in a car accident, but we should be thankful that we didn’t get paralyzed or worse in the car accident.
In Philippians 4:4-13, Jesus gives us some great advice on tough times in our lives and how to gain peace in the difficult times. We can bring our troubles, hardships, worries, difficulties, trials, etc. to Him and ask Him for help in dealing with them. If you’re at the end of your rope, turn the situations over to Him and let Him handle them. He’s willing and waiting to give us a peace and to calm our souls if we’re willing to ask Him. If we do that, He will help us and we can start to train ourselves on how to focus on things that will allow us to transform our attitudes and mind to be more thankful for the many things that we have in life to be thankful for and move away from the items that distract us and hinder us from living our lives with joy and peace.
I’m still a work in progress, but I am making strides in seeking what’s ahead and moving from what’s behind. I’d pray that you do that also and learn to be thankful for what God has given you.
GLW
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4-13 (NIV)
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Let your gentleness be evident to all. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 3:13 (NIV)
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead
I can understand this even more than ever before. Despite what some may think, for most of my 45+ years, I’ve had a rather upbeat and positive outlook on life. Something may get me down, but I’m over it in short order. Not because my life has been a bed of roses without issues though. Many can attest that I’ve had my share (sometimes it seems more than my share) of difficulties; financial, family, marriage, church, health, death of a Son, lost almost everything I owned, the list is rather long. Sometimes if I dwell on the difficult times I’ve had, it can cause my attitude and personality to change. Getting beat down by life can have a devastating effect on a person. The longer you dwell on it, the greater the chance we can slide into depression thus making it harder to return to some sense of normalcy in our lives.
Friends and family can give you advice during times like these, but they can’t change our attitudes for us. The only way that can happen is for us to realize that we have to make the decision to rebound. Sometimes it seems easier to stay where we are and have a pity party, but eventually that will grow old both to you and your friends.
I battled this for some time and one day while having lunch with my best friend, he told me that I wasn’t the same person I was just a few years back. I asked him what he meant and he told me, “You’ve lost the zest and thrill for life that you once had. You either lost it or someone/something took it from you”. I told him that I’ve been through so much and that I lost a little at a time until I arrived at the point I am now. I may never get back to where I once was. He proceeded to tell me that getting to where I am may not have been anything I had control over, but getting out of there is something I do have control over. You can sit and sour or you can take the initiative to change. He’s been an influence in my life for over 40 years, the older we get the more positive thankfully. In I Thessalonians 5:18, Jesus tells us to give thanks in every circumstance. Sometimes things happen and we don’t know how to find anything to be thankful for, but we can always look at ways that it could have been worse. We’re to give thanks in everything, not for everything. Not many would be thankful for getting a broken arm in a car accident, but we should be thankful that we didn’t get paralyzed or worse in the car accident.
In Philippians 4:4-13, Jesus gives us some great advice on tough times in our lives and how to gain peace in the difficult times. We can bring our troubles, hardships, worries, difficulties, trials, etc. to Him and ask Him for help in dealing with them. If you’re at the end of your rope, turn the situations over to Him and let Him handle them. He’s willing and waiting to give us a peace and to calm our souls if we’re willing to ask Him. If we do that, He will help us and we can start to train ourselves on how to focus on things that will allow us to transform our attitudes and mind to be more thankful for the many things that we have in life to be thankful for and move away from the items that distract us and hinder us from living our lives with joy and peace.
I’m still a work in progress, but I am making strides in seeking what’s ahead and moving from what’s behind. I’d pray that you do that also and learn to be thankful for what God has given you.
GLW
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4-13 (NIV)
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Let your gentleness be evident to all. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 3:13 (NIV)
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Give Me the Wheel
I took the summer off from my writing but have several "new" topics that I plan on bringing over the next few months. Most ideas came from talking to people about their issues and items in their lives that they are dealing with. Hopefully, the Lord will give me words that can be of use to someone. I'll do my best to make them understandable and compact.
GLW
___________________________________________________________
Teach Me Lord to Wait
Being around church all of my life and being the son of a Music Minister, I’ve heard/sung many songs and hymns through my time here on earth. Although I’m no longer a Music Minister, I do fill in at times and seldom do I use older music unless it’s been “spiced up” a bit. One of these songs came to mind the other day and reminded me of many things from the years.
At a couple of my previous churches where they were tortured by having me as their Music Minister, we used to sing an older song titled “Teach Me Lord”. It was taken from a passage in the book of Isaiah.
Isaiah 40:31 (The Message)
He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch His breath and He knows everything, inside and out.
He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
They spread their wings and soar like eagles, they run and don't get tired, they walk and don't lag behind.
Many times we can sing a song at church and just go through the motions of worship. Rarely do we actually transform our singing into worship and it is even rarer when we actually live what we sing in church. We’ve become an instant society with many have-it-now conveniences. For us, having to wait on something means thirty minutes to an hour of an inconvenience. Not days, weeks, months, or even years. Everything is designed around instant gratification in today’s world. Having to wait on things has become a foreign concept.
Young couples starting out are often faced with troubles right off the bat because of this. At home with Mom & Dad, they had all they wanted and needed. When they marry and move out, they decide they need all of the same items they had when Mom & Dad were providing them. So they proceed to go out and get what they want. Use the handy dandy charge card and dig themselves a financial hole to satisfy the have-it-now need. That adds stresses and issues on their newly formed marriage that will already have issues to be dealt with.
I can understand the difficulties many face. Having dealt/dealing with several personal issues over the past five years, waiting on the Lord can be a very stressful thing.
* I want financial issues fixed now
* I want relationship issues fixed now
* I want the issues with my Children fixed now
* I want health issues fixed now
* I want spiritual issues fixed now
And the list goes on. Having to pray for an issue and wait on the Lord to “fix” the issue can be very trying. Often we decide to handle it on our own and give up on God when it appears He’s not doing anything. We take the reigns and run with it. Only to make a bigger mess and cry out to God for letting this happen to us. If we’d learn to turn it over to Him and wait, the problem could be solved and we could avoid some of the troubles we end up with.
In seminary a great pastor friend of mine once told me, “we tell God to take the wheel in our lives and then we take the steering wheel back from God and tell Him that He doesn’t seem to know where we’re going, or what He’s doing. After we run off the road, we tell Him to get back behind the wheel and argue with Him for letting us take the wheel from Him anyway. It’s almost a no win situation for Him.”
Just because we can’t see where He’s taking us or where we’re going doesn’t mean He’s lost. We’ve got to learn to lean on Him, and trust in Him. In Proverbs,
Proverbs 3:5-6 (New Living Translation)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.
Put your faith, trust, hope, plans, future, and direction in God’s hands. He knows where you’re going and will take care of you. Even when we think we’re lost, have no hope, or are facing insurmountable odds and situations, He’s there. Though it may not be easy, we have the promise that He will be there to take care of us every step along the way. It’s a continual process but after we experience victory from letting Him handle the situations, it gets easier to turn things over to Him and trust Him.
Hebrews 13:5 (New International Version)
… God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
___________________________________________________________
Teach Me Lord
They that wait upon the Lord
Shall renew their strength.
They shall mount up on wings like eagles.
They will run and not be weary,
They shall walk and never faint
Teach me Lord, teach me Lord, to wait.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
It's Wearing Me Down
The Battles of Frustration
Even though I’m not the youngest rooster in the barnyard, I still sometimes have issues with frustration. It never seems to disappear.
If you asked me five years ago about where I would be in 2009, I would have given you a list of where I’d be living, what I’d be doing, what my wife and Kids would be busy with, etc. Even though there were many questions to be answered, I was sure of many things and had a decent grasp on the future and my plans for the future.
Times change. Sometimes God can throw you a curve ball and allow drastic changes to take place within your life and disrupt all of your plans. It can get very trying and frustrating when things don’t go as you plan.
Do you have unfulfilled expectations? Is there an unmet need in your life, or has a dream been shattered? From personal experience, I can tell you that sometimes in life we experience setbacks and failures. We work towards a goal, only to see it thwarted. We have an image in our minds of the perfect family, career, or lifestyle—yet there are many times we fail to live up to those images.
Even though I’m not the youngest rooster in the barnyard, I still sometimes have issues with frustration. It never seems to disappear.
If you asked me five years ago about where I would be in 2009, I would have given you a list of where I’d be living, what I’d be doing, what my wife and Kids would be busy with, etc. Even though there were many questions to be answered, I was sure of many things and had a decent grasp on the future and my plans for the future.
Times change. Sometimes God can throw you a curve ball and allow drastic changes to take place within your life and disrupt all of your plans. It can get very trying and frustrating when things don’t go as you plan.
Do you have unfulfilled expectations? Is there an unmet need in your life, or has a dream been shattered? From personal experience, I can tell you that sometimes in life we experience setbacks and failures. We work towards a goal, only to see it thwarted. We have an image in our minds of the perfect family, career, or lifestyle—yet there are many times we fail to live up to those images.
Hopes and dreams are not bad—they inspire us to keep going. But when dreams fail, they leave us confused, disillusioned and sometimes totally devastated. Unfulfilled expectations are painful. They can even be traumatic, especially when we have put our whole hope and planned our futures on these expectations.
After 20 years of working for the government, I noticed that it’s amazing how fifteen minor frustrations at work can add up to one big, bad attitude by the time you head for home. Frustrations come in three varieties:
After 20 years of working for the government, I noticed that it’s amazing how fifteen minor frustrations at work can add up to one big, bad attitude by the time you head for home. Frustrations come in three varieties:
- Interruptions: unexpected delays when you have a deadline to meet or something important requires your attention. No matter how well we plan, at times our best plans are often interrupted.
- Inconveniences: inconveniences are usually situations involving things: the copy machine breaks down, traffic jams on the roadway, or something disappears when you need it.
- Irritations: Long delays, unreliable people, playing telephone tag, illness, obnoxious clients, etc.In all actuality, you can’t eliminate these. You will face all three varieties this week, but you can keep them from stressing you out.
Though you cannot eliminate them, one tremendous way to reduce stress is to learn how to manage your frustrations.
- Don’t resist it, but don’t overreact or blow up.
- Don’t resent it; don’t internalize you anger.
- Don’t resign to it; don’t have a pity-party.
Instead, do what you can to reduce it. Treat it as insignificant. Put the frustration into proper perspective. Though it can seem very traumatic, it’s just a minor setback, a part of living, no big deal! I’m sure you’ve heard this statement before so follow these two rules for stress management:
RULE #1: Don’t sweat the small stuff.
RULE #2: Recognize that it’s all small stuff!
The Bible says, “A man’s wisdom gives him patience…” Proverbs 19:11
The only way we can see all stuff as small stuff is to view it from God’s perspective. When I am in tune with God, I remember He has everything under control even though I don’t! So I don’t have to sweat it: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV).
If your church or pastor is of any worth, they can help you work through your frustration, there are times you need to talk to someone. When I was facing the troubles and trials of previous years, the Lord allowed me to spend time with a couple of Pastor friends of mine and they were a tremendous blessing to me as I recovered from the trauma that had taken place in my life. Just talk to someone in the church that you trust. Sit down with them and talk about life's problems, being able to talk about it with an objective and confidential source can make you feel a lot better. If they give you any advice, make sure it goes along with what God’s word says. Just because they may seem to be a good Christian or pastor does not mean they wouldn’t give you advice that is contrary to God’s word. The most powerful tool at your disposal however is prayer. Talk with God and ask for His help and guidance through the times.
Frustration is hard to overcome, but with help it can be.
In John 16:33, Jesus says: "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer! For I have overcome the world."
Being a Christian doesn't mean that we will not experience difficult times. God has told us the truth, that at times life will be difficult. He has provided to us a way to overcome these tough times, by following Jesus' teachings and surrendering our lives to Him. His peace is amazing and His love is unmatched. You can rest in trusting that He is working all things for the good. Victory through tough times comes by staying connected to other believers, reading Gods word, trusting God, praying, worshiping and staying free from sins grip on us through forgiveness. If you are troubled today, lift your head up and realize your Saviors love for you. He has promised to never leave you or turn His back on you.
RULE #1: Don’t sweat the small stuff.
RULE #2: Recognize that it’s all small stuff!
The Bible says, “A man’s wisdom gives him patience…” Proverbs 19:11
The only way we can see all stuff as small stuff is to view it from God’s perspective. When I am in tune with God, I remember He has everything under control even though I don’t! So I don’t have to sweat it: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV).
If your church or pastor is of any worth, they can help you work through your frustration, there are times you need to talk to someone. When I was facing the troubles and trials of previous years, the Lord allowed me to spend time with a couple of Pastor friends of mine and they were a tremendous blessing to me as I recovered from the trauma that had taken place in my life. Just talk to someone in the church that you trust. Sit down with them and talk about life's problems, being able to talk about it with an objective and confidential source can make you feel a lot better. If they give you any advice, make sure it goes along with what God’s word says. Just because they may seem to be a good Christian or pastor does not mean they wouldn’t give you advice that is contrary to God’s word. The most powerful tool at your disposal however is prayer. Talk with God and ask for His help and guidance through the times.
Frustration is hard to overcome, but with help it can be.
In John 16:33, Jesus says: "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer! For I have overcome the world."
Being a Christian doesn't mean that we will not experience difficult times. God has told us the truth, that at times life will be difficult. He has provided to us a way to overcome these tough times, by following Jesus' teachings and surrendering our lives to Him. His peace is amazing and His love is unmatched. You can rest in trusting that He is working all things for the good. Victory through tough times comes by staying connected to other believers, reading Gods word, trusting God, praying, worshiping and staying free from sins grip on us through forgiveness. If you are troubled today, lift your head up and realize your Saviors love for you. He has promised to never leave you or turn His back on you.
Monday, May 25, 2009
First Words
Each workday morning, I get the opportunity to travel 18 miles to work. Since I live by myself, I don’t usually get the opportunity to speak until I arrive at work. Recently, I started paying attention to the first words I speak every morning to see the motive, emotion, attitude, and purpose behind them.
Our first words in many ways can set the attitude and path we start the day out on. If they are harsh or critical, then we have a much better chance that the day will start out in a negative manner. If our first words are uplifting, we can set a positive tone for the day and help us as make the day a much more enjoyable event.
Philippians 4:8 (The Message)
Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.
After tracking my words for about a month, I noticed a definite pattern. Many times my first words were directed at people in traffic on my route to work. Though I live in a rural area, the traffic on my road can be heavy at times due to the thousands of people that transverse my road on their way to work at SRS. I spent twenty years there myself and though the management of the facility preaches safety in every aspect of your life (work and home) apparently their workers forget much of the safety training while they are in route to work. That along with the people that think they are the only people on the road or that the roads were built for them, can have a tendency to get me riled up on the roadway, not only in the morning but anytime. I recognized that I have the desire to vocalize my opinion of their driving and at time question their family’s heritage. When this happens, I start the day out on the wrong foot and it creates a hurdle for me to overcome in order to correct the issue and get my mind and attitude back on track.
If I make it to work without incident, usually the first words directed to me are from co-workers. Depending on which door I come in, they are either cordial welcomes or desperate pleas for help with an issue that affects the ability for the station to operate in the excellent manner which the employees and public have come to expect. Many times I am bombarded with requests long before I even make it to my office to gather my composure and focus on events for the day. When this happens, I can also start the day off in a negative manner requiring an attitude also.
However on most days, I make my commute to work quietly and to my office at work without incident. On these days, the first words are usually directed to/from me as pleasantries from the wonderful co-workers I have. Usually it’s one of the kind gentlemen or beautiful young ladies I work with and one cannot help but start the day out on the right foot after a kind word from them.
Our attitudes can be set by the initial moments we start our day off with. If you have children or a spouse, sometimes they can be difficult at the beginning of the day. A rough nights sleep or, as with children, a rough wake up can make us start the day off in a negative manner and can adversely affect our entire day. A difficult co-worker can also have the same effect on our day. It’s at this time we need to decide that no matter how we start the day off, we will have a good day and stay positive throughout the day.
A few years back I was going through a rough patch almost every morning. No matter how I felt when I woke in the morning, something was going to ruin it and I’d have a tough time making it through the day with my usual upbeat personality. I learned even more during this time to meditate and pray asking the Lord to help me to stay positive no matter what life dealt me during the day. It can be difficult, however it can be accomplished.
I still have a way to go as I have not attained the level I need. I’ve worked on the negative attitudes I have acquired and still need to eliminate the unkind remarks I make to others at times. It’s a continual process and the Lord has helped me much in these areas over the past few months but progress still needs to be made.
All this being said, I ask you to try this experiment: over the next two weeks minimum (preferably the next month), start tracking the first words you speak of each day. Note what the words were, who they were directed toward, their meaning and context, and your tone for the words. Check to see if any adjustments need to be made so that you can stay in a positive mental state and make the day more enjoyable to you and those you come into contact with each day. It can help you mentally, emotionally, and physically.
Our first words in many ways can set the attitude and path we start the day out on. If they are harsh or critical, then we have a much better chance that the day will start out in a negative manner. If our first words are uplifting, we can set a positive tone for the day and help us as make the day a much more enjoyable event.
Philippians 4:8 (The Message)
Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.
After tracking my words for about a month, I noticed a definite pattern. Many times my first words were directed at people in traffic on my route to work. Though I live in a rural area, the traffic on my road can be heavy at times due to the thousands of people that transverse my road on their way to work at SRS. I spent twenty years there myself and though the management of the facility preaches safety in every aspect of your life (work and home) apparently their workers forget much of the safety training while they are in route to work. That along with the people that think they are the only people on the road or that the roads were built for them, can have a tendency to get me riled up on the roadway, not only in the morning but anytime. I recognized that I have the desire to vocalize my opinion of their driving and at time question their family’s heritage. When this happens, I start the day out on the wrong foot and it creates a hurdle for me to overcome in order to correct the issue and get my mind and attitude back on track.
If I make it to work without incident, usually the first words directed to me are from co-workers. Depending on which door I come in, they are either cordial welcomes or desperate pleas for help with an issue that affects the ability for the station to operate in the excellent manner which the employees and public have come to expect. Many times I am bombarded with requests long before I even make it to my office to gather my composure and focus on events for the day. When this happens, I can also start the day off in a negative manner requiring an attitude also.
However on most days, I make my commute to work quietly and to my office at work without incident. On these days, the first words are usually directed to/from me as pleasantries from the wonderful co-workers I have. Usually it’s one of the kind gentlemen or beautiful young ladies I work with and one cannot help but start the day out on the right foot after a kind word from them.
Our attitudes can be set by the initial moments we start our day off with. If you have children or a spouse, sometimes they can be difficult at the beginning of the day. A rough nights sleep or, as with children, a rough wake up can make us start the day off in a negative manner and can adversely affect our entire day. A difficult co-worker can also have the same effect on our day. It’s at this time we need to decide that no matter how we start the day off, we will have a good day and stay positive throughout the day.
A few years back I was going through a rough patch almost every morning. No matter how I felt when I woke in the morning, something was going to ruin it and I’d have a tough time making it through the day with my usual upbeat personality. I learned even more during this time to meditate and pray asking the Lord to help me to stay positive no matter what life dealt me during the day. It can be difficult, however it can be accomplished.
I still have a way to go as I have not attained the level I need. I’ve worked on the negative attitudes I have acquired and still need to eliminate the unkind remarks I make to others at times. It’s a continual process and the Lord has helped me much in these areas over the past few months but progress still needs to be made.
All this being said, I ask you to try this experiment: over the next two weeks minimum (preferably the next month), start tracking the first words you speak of each day. Note what the words were, who they were directed toward, their meaning and context, and your tone for the words. Check to see if any adjustments need to be made so that you can stay in a positive mental state and make the day more enjoyable to you and those you come into contact with each day. It can help you mentally, emotionally, and physically.
Monday, April 27, 2009
And It Came to Pass
This “note” is a re-hash of a devotion I did several years ago. Life has changed drastically for me since I first wrote this and I can vouch for it even more than I could back then. Even in life’s darkest moments, we can have peace knowing “this too shall pass”.
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And it Came to Pass
Over 400 times in the bible, the phrase “And it came to pass” is mentioned. Here are just a few;
Genesis 8:13 (KJV) After Noah & his family landed with the ark.
And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry.
God provided safety.
Exodus 17:10-12 (KJV) Moses leading the Jewish during battle
So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
But Moses hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
God provided victory.
Judges 16:24-26 (KJV) Philistines had captured Samson and were having a good time making fun of Samson.
And when the people saw him, they praised their god: for they said, Our god hath delivered into our hands our enemy, and the destroyer of our country, which slew many of us.
And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house: and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars.
And Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house standeth, that I may lean upon them.
God honored His promise.
Matthew 9:10-11 (KJV) Jesus eating with “unworthy” people
And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
Luke 16:21 -23 (KJV) Rich man and poor man
And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom:
the rich man also died, and was buried;
And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Luke 2:1-3 (KJV) Probably most known version
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
What is common about all of these situations? They came to pass. They were here for a time, but then they passed.
Look at some of these fads from the past fifty years.
· Poodle skirts
· Doo Wap music
· Flower children
· Beatniks
· Disco clothes & music
· Pet rocks
· Dance fads
· Television shows
Many people who had their 15 minutes of fame. All had this in common, they were here for a time, but they passed.
Mark Lowry claims his favorite verse to be, “And it came to pass...” As he interprets it, “Whatever we’re going through, it didn’t come to stay.” The verse applies everywhere: although this was largely intended for humor, here is some deep spiritual meaning behind it.
· You young 18-year-old jocks that have muscles in your earlobes and piles of hair, enjoy them. They will pass.
· You young girls with the great looks and shape, enjoy them. They will pass.
· Those enjoying great peace, wealth, health, everything’s going good, enjoy it. It will pass.
Even more:
· Those facing health issues, work issues, financial strains, hold on. They will pass.
· Those facing family issues, difficulty with children, hold on. They will pass.
· Maybe you’re facing marriage difficulties, hold on and turn to God. They will pass. (As a side note, turn to GOD-not friends, not relatives, and especially not to a person of the opposite sex. Rely on God and seek Him, He will guide and provide.)
Are you having a bad week? Hold on, it’ll pass. You having a good week...? Hold on, it’ll pass. Especially remember if this period of your life has been really difficult.
“It came to pass...”“It didn’t come to stay, it came to pass.. either it’ll pass or you’ll pass!”
I can, as most of you can, vouch that at times, life can be somewhat difficult. I’m reminded of a story I from my Mother a few years back. It was a book;
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
From the moment he wakes up with gum in his hair, things just do not go Alexander’s way. At breakfast, Alexander’s brothers Nick and Anthony reach into their cereal boxes and pull out amazing prizes, while all Alexander ends up with is . . cereal. The situation does not get any better at school, in fact it gets worse. No wonder Alexander wants to move to Australia! In Australia, everything is upside down, so maybe a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day can become a wonderful, terrific, really good day. After school, Alexander encounters even more bad news when he visits the dentist and goes shopping for sneakers with his mother and brothers. And Alexander’s father isn’t at all happy with him when the boys visit his office and Alexander gets a little carried away with the new copying machine! This terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day is enough to make anyone want to go to Australia! At the end, Alexander just wants to eat worms.
When the world is falling down around you and you don’t feel like you can make it, we can give in to the troubles in our lives or we can remember that God is with us and head forward seeking what He has for us next.
Life has often been compared to a series of storms. You’re either in the middle of one, just coming out of one, or getting ready to go into one. If you’re in one now, hold on-God is with you. If you’re just coming out of one, praise God for bringing you through it. If you’re getting ready to enter one, draw close to God and He’ll take care of you and comfort you. If everything in your life is going along smooth.’ now get prepared, I promise a storms on the horizon.
Hanahan — Hurricane Hugo
We were sent to the Charleston area after Hurricane Hugo came through in the late 1980’s. In many areas, it was a scene of total destruction. Trees downed, houses destroyed, cars & boats damaged. It looked as if a gigantic bomb had gone off and thrown everything to the ground. In many places you could see the power of what a large storm could do to our environment.
Our lives are the same way. God brings us good times, but He also allows bad times to come to us also. You can look at each of us and see the result of storms in our lives through the years. It’s part of our makeup and part of our testimony. How we respond to the storms can tell much about us.
Why does God allow us to suffer and go through storms/trials/difficulties?
A. Difficulties Force Us Into Dependence.
Let’s face it, we are very independent bunch of people and normally the only thing that will cause us to become dependent are hard times. I don’t think God wants us to learn all of our lessons the hard way but if that is what it takes for us to experience His blessing in our lives then I guess that is what he will use. He loves us too much to allow us to destroy ourselves.
B. Difficulties Force Us Into Patience.
Why wait on God when I don’t have to wait on MacDonald’s? After all if I can get my Big Mac in 30 seconds or less then why can’t God do whatever He needs to do just as quickly? We probably would never say that out loud but I wonder how many of us feel that way? I guess we need to subscribe to Mark Lowry’s favorite bible verse, “and it came to pass.”
C. Difficulties Mature Us.
God allows us to sometimes suffer so that we can mature in our faith and draw closer to Him. When bad times come again to us in the future, we can look back and see where He has been faithful to us and protected us in previous bad times.
James 1:2-5 (NIV)
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. I any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (KJV)
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
In everything give thanks - not FOR everything give thanks. I don’t think God expects us to give thanks for having cancer, but I do think He expects us to give thanks to Him for those who help us, and the assurance of knowing that no matter what it may bring us, He will be there to take care of us.
Hebrews 13:4-6 (NIV)
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
Philippians 4:10-12 (NIV)
I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
No matter what happens in life, what matters is the attitude towards it. ‘Life can only be as good as your attitude about it.” Trouble & happiness comes and goes. Enjoy the good parts while they last, make the best of the bad parts.
That, I feel, is the key to being content. All things will come to pass, we have to trust and rely on God for His protection and power. Just remember as the song says, “The God on the mountain is still God in the valleys.”
God promises to be with us and to protect us.
The promise God gave us in Hebrews 13,
I'll never let you down, never walk off and leave you." (the Message)
Unfortunately, that doesn’t apply to everyone. You may be asking, “What do you mean?”
God promises to take care of His own but you have to be one of His own. That means realizing that you are imperfect (a sinner), your need for a Savior (Jesus Christ), and turning over control of your life to Him and submitting to His direction and will for your life. It may sound difficult and at times it can be, but it’s free and as easy as saying,
“Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I do not deserve eternal life. But, I believe You died and rose from the grave to purchase a place in Heaven for me. Jesus, come into my life, take control of my life, forgive my sins and save me. I am now placing my trust in You alone for my salvation and I accept your free gift of eternal life.”
The reward is more than you could ever imagine. No matter what comes your way, it will pass and you’ll make it through stronger than you were before.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Forgive Them! Are You Crazy?
One of the best things the Lord has ever blessed me with was a forgiving spirit. It has come in handy many times in my life and makes things easier and life better. Medical studies have shown that people who are forgiving have less stress and fewer medical problems than those who hold grudges and harbor bitterness in their lives.
My former girlfriend (and later wife) had a difficult time forgiving others and held grudges against people for many years. I minored in counseling and during my years in seminary, so I decided that I wanted to delve deeper into the subject of forgiveness to see if I could learn more about it so that maybe I could help her and others better deal with the issue. I even did one of my dissertations on the subject of forgiveness.
Even with the “extra” help, I still didn’t become proficient enough to help others deal with their forgiveness issues. Though a few made some headway, I am in no way an expert on the subject. Nevertheless, I thought I’d take the opportunity (many years later) to share some of my insight into the subject of forgiveness. Granted, this is a Christian viewpoint and though you may not be a Christian, may even despise them, or be an atheist, these can still provide you some useful information as you deal with forgiveness in your own life.
Someone wronged you. Whether it’s a broken trust, a lie, someone talked about you behind your back, stole from you, cheated on you, was mean to you, violated you, or whatever the issue may be, you’ve been wronged. The view in the world is to get them back and avenge the wrong. After all, don’t they deserve it? We have pride and many times think we’re above forgiving some people and things. Maybe this isn’t even the first time they have wronged you. How many times must I continue to be wronged by this person? The answer is not always what we want to hear. Forgiveness is not a one time ordeal. It’s a life changing action that is not always easy or convenient. Turning the other cheek is against our human nature and our society teaches us that we must be avenged and that someone has to pay for wronging us. There are numerous verses in the Bible that speak of God’s model of forgiveness. For the sake of being brief and not making this a long, exhausting study on the Biblical model of forgiveness, I’ll just pick a few of the verses that help us understand the principle of forgiveness.
Item 1: Forgiveness Requires Forgetfulness
In Psalm 130:3-4, the Bible tells us that God doesn’t keep a record of our wrongdoings and He models the lifestyle of forgiveness. He provides unconditional forgiveness and desires us to do the same to others.
I used to have a friend that kept a “daily journal”. In actuality, it was a daily log of how I had wronged them and was a running record of my failures toward them. The journal covered many years and was an excellent example of what Christ specifically tells us we should not do if we are to be one of His followers. Even though it may be difficult, we must learn to let go of the shortcomings that others have had toward us. Christ said that if we bring our failures to Him and ask for forgiveness, He will forgive and remember it no more. We must learn to do the same.
Item 2: Turn the Other Cheek
We briefly touched on this earlier but what does this mean? In Matthew 5:38-42 Christ tells us that when we are offended, we shouldn’t use it as an opportunity to make a public display to let everyone know we have been wronged. We should respond with kindness and humility. Once again, this is against our nature and requires that we turn these type situations over to Christ and rely on Him instead of lashing out and letting them have it. If we decide to lash out at them, we are showing those who wronged us that we are not in control of our actions, but that we are controlled by our flesh and emotions. It can be very damaging to our reputation and witness if we lash out at those who wrong us. I should note however, this should not be taken that we must live our lives as a doormat for others and that we cannot make a stand against a wrong. At some point people must be held accountable for their actions. Blaming their past or their environment for their failures and ignoring their actions is not acceptable. Accountability for one’s self and one’s actions is expected. Not everything in life is someone else’s fault, but that’s a subject for another day.
Item 3: Forgiveness is a Continual Event
In Matthew 18:21-22, someone asked Jesus how many times should we forgive someone for wronging us, seven times? Jesus replied that we must forgive not just seven times but seven times seventy (490). Even more astounding is that if you read the original Greek, you see that this is seven times seventy in a twenty four hour period for the SAME offense. What was Jesus trying to say? Not that we should forgive 490 times a day for the same offense, but that our life should be a continual cycle of forgiving others for their shortcomings.
As stated earlier, maybe we should be a little cognizant of a person that continually wrongs us with the same offense. It could be a sign that they are having trouble with an issue and could need some professional help in getting over an issue. Ignoring problems and hoping they will improve or correct themselves rarely works. Sometimes people need to get professional help.
Item 4: True Forgiveness Does Not Have Strings Attached
We cannot base our forgiveness on a list of requirements that our offenders must meet in order to receive forgiveness from us. Forgiveness is offered freely and should not have criteria for the offender to meet. No one can earn forgiveness. The same is true of Christ. He tells us if we ask for forgiveness from Him, He grants it.
Item 5: Sometimes We Need to Ask For Forgiveness
There are times in our lives when we’ve wronged others and need to go to them and ask for forgiveness.
Several years back when I was in the process of getting divorced, the Youth Pastor of the church my family was attending called me and blasted me for being a horrible father to my two Children. He even gloated and made light of the fact that my marriage of 18 years was coming to an end. I didn’t handle this too well and decided that I would vent the anger and frustration of my circumstances at him. During our conversation, I proceeded to “let him have it”. After all, he was extremely rude to me and was about as unkind toward me as anyone had ever been my entire life. We finally ended our conversation and I figured that if anyone ever owed me an apology, it was him. After a few days I had recovered from it and moved on. A couple of years later while I was at a pastoral seminar on church growth, the speaker mentioned that an unforgiving spirit or something that we may even be subconsciously holding onto could be hindering our walk with God and causing trouble with our life/ministry. He talked of this only a moment during the first day of the seminar and didn’t even spend a minute on it before returning to the subject at hand. I have no idea what they spoke of the rest of that day, or the next day as I became obsessed with that one remark. It was as if God had only brought me to the seminar to hear that one thing. Though I had been wronged by the Youth Pastor and he may or may not ever ask for forgiveness for what he said to me, I was wrong in the way I handled it. I said, “Lord, don’t You remember what he did to me, how he talked to me, and how he treated me?” He reminded me that I do not have to answer for him or anyone else, but I do have to answer for my actions and reactions. I reacted wrongly and no matter if he ever asks for forgiveness or not, I must ask him to forgive me for my attitude and reactions to him. I pondered it for a while and thought of stopping by his house and apologizing but never did. Finally one night at a football game I saw him and his family and talked with him and apologized for my words, attitude and actions. It wasn’t easy but it did seem to remove a load of weight from me.
Hopefully these five steps will be of use to you as you go through your daily walk. Forgiveness is not always easy and at times it may seem to make you feel better to not forgive. However, if you make a concerted effort to forgive, you can be surprised at how much easier it becomes and how much more enjoyable life can be. Holding grudges ages you quicker and can shorten your life. The easiest way live is to learn to forgive, and let God handle it.
Psalm 130:3-4
If you God, kept records on wrongdoings, who would stand a chance?
As it turns out, forgiveness is Your habit, and that's why you're worshiped.
Matthew 5:38-42
"Here's another old saying that deserves a second look: 'Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.'
Is that going to get us anywhere? Here's what I propose: 'Don't hit back at all.'
If someone strikes you, stand there and take it.
If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back, gift-wrap your best coat and make a present of it.
And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.
Matthew 18:21-22
At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, "Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?"
Jesus replied, "Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven.
My former girlfriend (and later wife) had a difficult time forgiving others and held grudges against people for many years. I minored in counseling and during my years in seminary, so I decided that I wanted to delve deeper into the subject of forgiveness to see if I could learn more about it so that maybe I could help her and others better deal with the issue. I even did one of my dissertations on the subject of forgiveness.
Even with the “extra” help, I still didn’t become proficient enough to help others deal with their forgiveness issues. Though a few made some headway, I am in no way an expert on the subject. Nevertheless, I thought I’d take the opportunity (many years later) to share some of my insight into the subject of forgiveness. Granted, this is a Christian viewpoint and though you may not be a Christian, may even despise them, or be an atheist, these can still provide you some useful information as you deal with forgiveness in your own life.
Someone wronged you. Whether it’s a broken trust, a lie, someone talked about you behind your back, stole from you, cheated on you, was mean to you, violated you, or whatever the issue may be, you’ve been wronged. The view in the world is to get them back and avenge the wrong. After all, don’t they deserve it? We have pride and many times think we’re above forgiving some people and things. Maybe this isn’t even the first time they have wronged you. How many times must I continue to be wronged by this person? The answer is not always what we want to hear. Forgiveness is not a one time ordeal. It’s a life changing action that is not always easy or convenient. Turning the other cheek is against our human nature and our society teaches us that we must be avenged and that someone has to pay for wronging us. There are numerous verses in the Bible that speak of God’s model of forgiveness. For the sake of being brief and not making this a long, exhausting study on the Biblical model of forgiveness, I’ll just pick a few of the verses that help us understand the principle of forgiveness.
Item 1: Forgiveness Requires Forgetfulness
In Psalm 130:3-4, the Bible tells us that God doesn’t keep a record of our wrongdoings and He models the lifestyle of forgiveness. He provides unconditional forgiveness and desires us to do the same to others.
I used to have a friend that kept a “daily journal”. In actuality, it was a daily log of how I had wronged them and was a running record of my failures toward them. The journal covered many years and was an excellent example of what Christ specifically tells us we should not do if we are to be one of His followers. Even though it may be difficult, we must learn to let go of the shortcomings that others have had toward us. Christ said that if we bring our failures to Him and ask for forgiveness, He will forgive and remember it no more. We must learn to do the same.
Item 2: Turn the Other Cheek
We briefly touched on this earlier but what does this mean? In Matthew 5:38-42 Christ tells us that when we are offended, we shouldn’t use it as an opportunity to make a public display to let everyone know we have been wronged. We should respond with kindness and humility. Once again, this is against our nature and requires that we turn these type situations over to Christ and rely on Him instead of lashing out and letting them have it. If we decide to lash out at them, we are showing those who wronged us that we are not in control of our actions, but that we are controlled by our flesh and emotions. It can be very damaging to our reputation and witness if we lash out at those who wrong us. I should note however, this should not be taken that we must live our lives as a doormat for others and that we cannot make a stand against a wrong. At some point people must be held accountable for their actions. Blaming their past or their environment for their failures and ignoring their actions is not acceptable. Accountability for one’s self and one’s actions is expected. Not everything in life is someone else’s fault, but that’s a subject for another day.
Item 3: Forgiveness is a Continual Event
In Matthew 18:21-22, someone asked Jesus how many times should we forgive someone for wronging us, seven times? Jesus replied that we must forgive not just seven times but seven times seventy (490). Even more astounding is that if you read the original Greek, you see that this is seven times seventy in a twenty four hour period for the SAME offense. What was Jesus trying to say? Not that we should forgive 490 times a day for the same offense, but that our life should be a continual cycle of forgiving others for their shortcomings.
As stated earlier, maybe we should be a little cognizant of a person that continually wrongs us with the same offense. It could be a sign that they are having trouble with an issue and could need some professional help in getting over an issue. Ignoring problems and hoping they will improve or correct themselves rarely works. Sometimes people need to get professional help.
Item 4: True Forgiveness Does Not Have Strings Attached
We cannot base our forgiveness on a list of requirements that our offenders must meet in order to receive forgiveness from us. Forgiveness is offered freely and should not have criteria for the offender to meet. No one can earn forgiveness. The same is true of Christ. He tells us if we ask for forgiveness from Him, He grants it.
Item 5: Sometimes We Need to Ask For Forgiveness
There are times in our lives when we’ve wronged others and need to go to them and ask for forgiveness.
Several years back when I was in the process of getting divorced, the Youth Pastor of the church my family was attending called me and blasted me for being a horrible father to my two Children. He even gloated and made light of the fact that my marriage of 18 years was coming to an end. I didn’t handle this too well and decided that I would vent the anger and frustration of my circumstances at him. During our conversation, I proceeded to “let him have it”. After all, he was extremely rude to me and was about as unkind toward me as anyone had ever been my entire life. We finally ended our conversation and I figured that if anyone ever owed me an apology, it was him. After a few days I had recovered from it and moved on. A couple of years later while I was at a pastoral seminar on church growth, the speaker mentioned that an unforgiving spirit or something that we may even be subconsciously holding onto could be hindering our walk with God and causing trouble with our life/ministry. He talked of this only a moment during the first day of the seminar and didn’t even spend a minute on it before returning to the subject at hand. I have no idea what they spoke of the rest of that day, or the next day as I became obsessed with that one remark. It was as if God had only brought me to the seminar to hear that one thing. Though I had been wronged by the Youth Pastor and he may or may not ever ask for forgiveness for what he said to me, I was wrong in the way I handled it. I said, “Lord, don’t You remember what he did to me, how he talked to me, and how he treated me?” He reminded me that I do not have to answer for him or anyone else, but I do have to answer for my actions and reactions. I reacted wrongly and no matter if he ever asks for forgiveness or not, I must ask him to forgive me for my attitude and reactions to him. I pondered it for a while and thought of stopping by his house and apologizing but never did. Finally one night at a football game I saw him and his family and talked with him and apologized for my words, attitude and actions. It wasn’t easy but it did seem to remove a load of weight from me.
Hopefully these five steps will be of use to you as you go through your daily walk. Forgiveness is not always easy and at times it may seem to make you feel better to not forgive. However, if you make a concerted effort to forgive, you can be surprised at how much easier it becomes and how much more enjoyable life can be. Holding grudges ages you quicker and can shorten your life. The easiest way live is to learn to forgive, and let God handle it.
Psalm 130:3-4
If you God, kept records on wrongdoings, who would stand a chance?
As it turns out, forgiveness is Your habit, and that's why you're worshiped.
Matthew 5:38-42
"Here's another old saying that deserves a second look: 'Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.'
Is that going to get us anywhere? Here's what I propose: 'Don't hit back at all.'
If someone strikes you, stand there and take it.
If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back, gift-wrap your best coat and make a present of it.
And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.
Matthew 18:21-22
At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, "Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?"
Jesus replied, "Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Is it Really Time for a Change?
A few years back the lead pastor (he was not my pastor, but that’s a story for another day) of the church I attended came to me and asked if I would lead worship during a revival we were hosting at a small church in North Carolina that another of our pastors was preaching at. Our worship leader was to go but could not as he was expecting his first grandchild and didn’t want to be 8 hours away in case the grandchild arrived during the week. I told them that I would go and went to lead worship. The church was located in the Outer Banks in North Carolina. The Outer Banks is steeped in history and beauty. I had been there before and it quickly moved up on my list of favorite places.
The church we were holding revival at was also steeped in history and was built in the 1830’s. The average age of the church was probably in the mid to late 60’s. We arrived late on a Friday evening and had a meeting with some of the members to plan where we wanted to go in the community and invite people to come to the meetings we were having. On Saturday, we went to the areas and invited people. While traveling back, I asked about a trailer park we were approaching and found out that we weren’t visiting it and I asked “why not?” I was told they never visited there because it was “too far” from the church. It was less than a mile away from the church, it was then I knew we were in for an adventurous week at the church.
The church had no musicians, a limited sound system, no video system and if you packed the building, you may be able to get 50 people in the church. We brought both a sound and a video system with us and hooked them up on Saturday afternoon. By Saturday night we were all ready to go. Several members of the church stopped by as we were setting up and heard the CD’s and DVD’s we were playing. It was contemporary music and I could tell from the looks we were getting that it was going to be a major change for them. They probably were dreading it, but I was excited.
The church in many ways was still stuck in the 1830’s. The newest music they sang on Sunday morning was a modern (to them) song from the 1970’s. They had an order of worship and stuck to it. They were very traditional and regimented in their structure and worship. They sang the doxology, welcomed everyone, recognized the visitors, took an offering, gave a Sunday School report, and sang a coupe more songs before turning it over to our outreach pastor to preach. He brought his message and told them that we would be handling the music and entire services for the remainder of the week and encouraged them to attend and invite others. He also wanted them to know that we were going to do things a little different than they were used to and for them to be prepared for the difference. We began services on Sunday night. I played guitar and piano some before the services but didn’t use them during the service, only soundtracks and DVD’s. Our entire week was devoted to a despised word in many churches today – CHANGE.
We had almost 20 people in attendance for the evening service. Unfortunately, we had brought about 9 of the people with us so we made up almost half of the crowd. There were two people we had invited from the neighborhood there. The pastor brought the message and did his best to motivate the members into trying to reach the people in the community. We kept this up every night of the week, saw more people attending every night and by the end of the week, we had a packed house. I had talked with many of the people and they mentioned that they could not keep the younger adults, teens, or children attending or interested in being a part of the church. They had lost touch and no longer was the church relevant to their lives. I did my best to politely let them know that even though times had changed, the methods of the church had not. What worked in the 1940’s and 1950’s to make the church relevant no longer works today. In order to make the church more vibrant and once again become a needed part of people’s lives is for the church to have a makeover.
Make no mistake in my statement. The message we deliver cannot be changed. The message of salvation and the holiness and deity of Jesus Christ has not and will not ever change. We cannot change our beliefs and principles just so we can attract people. The gospel message is still the same today as it was in the 1830’s. If you die without accepting Christ as your Lord and Savior, you will still die and go to hell just as they did in the old days. However, we have to make changes in the way we present it. As I stated, what worked years ago is not working today. Churches are dying and people are walking away from church because of tradition and the inability of church to make the changes needed to become relevant to peoples lives. The illustration I used with the church is the following;
There are two brand new cars in the lot. Both serve the same purpose, to reliably take you from point A to point B. Both are the exact same price, in mint condition, seat four people, have less than 10 miles on them, and get similar gas mileage. For $12,000, you can have either car. Here are the two choices
Choice 1
1972 AMC Pacer
Vinyl Seats
AM/FM Radio with an 8 Track
Manual Steering
Manual Brakes
Automatic Transmission
Manual Windows
Manual Door Locks
Choice 2
2009 Ford Mustang
Leather Seats
AM/FM Stereo with CD & MP3 Player
Power Steering
Power Brakes with Anti-Lock
Automatic Transmission
Power Windows
Power Door Locks
Cruise Control
Tilt Steering
Heated Seats
Air Conditioning
Power Seats
Cruise Control
Tilt Steering
Air Conditioning
Power Seats
Rarely will someone decide that they want the Pacer. Most will want the convenience, styling, and modernization of the Mustang. The Pacer may have been a good choice years ago but its styling is dated and its obsolescence makes it irrelevant and unattractive to younger people.
The same goes with our churches. The programs and worship styles we use must be modernized to be more attractive to younger generations. If you have your ticket and are on your way to heaven, then church is no longer about what attracts you or what you are comfortable with. Our primary goal as Christians is to reach out to others and bring them into a relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus told us to “go into the world and compel them to come to Him”. We have to provide something attractive to be able to bring them to Him. Just because it was good enough for Granny (or me) does not mean it is still effective in today’s environment.
This is not to say that we should abandon the old ways. There are still people who will be attracted to Jesus by the old methods. However, you can go to some towns with churches on almost every corner and see that churches that use the old ways are plentiful. It’s what many people are comfortable with and they seem to think that if you want to come to Christ, you’ll have to conform to their ways because they will not change for you. Traditional churches are a dime a dozen and unfortunately, most of them are dying or have already died, they just haven’t noticed yet.
No one drives a Model T everyday, Hollywood does not make silent movies, nor does anyone watch a black and white TV anymore. If the rest of the world can change and embraces modern technology and methods, then why not the church? To once again be relevant and reach the world today, we must change. Not our beliefs, but our methods.
It will be a struggle, you may be alienated by so-called Christians and even friends, but the rewards far outweigh the costs.
GLW
The church we were holding revival at was also steeped in history and was built in the 1830’s. The average age of the church was probably in the mid to late 60’s. We arrived late on a Friday evening and had a meeting with some of the members to plan where we wanted to go in the community and invite people to come to the meetings we were having. On Saturday, we went to the areas and invited people. While traveling back, I asked about a trailer park we were approaching and found out that we weren’t visiting it and I asked “why not?” I was told they never visited there because it was “too far” from the church. It was less than a mile away from the church, it was then I knew we were in for an adventurous week at the church.
The church had no musicians, a limited sound system, no video system and if you packed the building, you may be able to get 50 people in the church. We brought both a sound and a video system with us and hooked them up on Saturday afternoon. By Saturday night we were all ready to go. Several members of the church stopped by as we were setting up and heard the CD’s and DVD’s we were playing. It was contemporary music and I could tell from the looks we were getting that it was going to be a major change for them. They probably were dreading it, but I was excited.
The church in many ways was still stuck in the 1830’s. The newest music they sang on Sunday morning was a modern (to them) song from the 1970’s. They had an order of worship and stuck to it. They were very traditional and regimented in their structure and worship. They sang the doxology, welcomed everyone, recognized the visitors, took an offering, gave a Sunday School report, and sang a coupe more songs before turning it over to our outreach pastor to preach. He brought his message and told them that we would be handling the music and entire services for the remainder of the week and encouraged them to attend and invite others. He also wanted them to know that we were going to do things a little different than they were used to and for them to be prepared for the difference. We began services on Sunday night. I played guitar and piano some before the services but didn’t use them during the service, only soundtracks and DVD’s. Our entire week was devoted to a despised word in many churches today – CHANGE.
We had almost 20 people in attendance for the evening service. Unfortunately, we had brought about 9 of the people with us so we made up almost half of the crowd. There were two people we had invited from the neighborhood there. The pastor brought the message and did his best to motivate the members into trying to reach the people in the community. We kept this up every night of the week, saw more people attending every night and by the end of the week, we had a packed house. I had talked with many of the people and they mentioned that they could not keep the younger adults, teens, or children attending or interested in being a part of the church. They had lost touch and no longer was the church relevant to their lives. I did my best to politely let them know that even though times had changed, the methods of the church had not. What worked in the 1940’s and 1950’s to make the church relevant no longer works today. In order to make the church more vibrant and once again become a needed part of people’s lives is for the church to have a makeover.
Make no mistake in my statement. The message we deliver cannot be changed. The message of salvation and the holiness and deity of Jesus Christ has not and will not ever change. We cannot change our beliefs and principles just so we can attract people. The gospel message is still the same today as it was in the 1830’s. If you die without accepting Christ as your Lord and Savior, you will still die and go to hell just as they did in the old days. However, we have to make changes in the way we present it. As I stated, what worked years ago is not working today. Churches are dying and people are walking away from church because of tradition and the inability of church to make the changes needed to become relevant to peoples lives. The illustration I used with the church is the following;
There are two brand new cars in the lot. Both serve the same purpose, to reliably take you from point A to point B. Both are the exact same price, in mint condition, seat four people, have less than 10 miles on them, and get similar gas mileage. For $12,000, you can have either car. Here are the two choices
Choice 1
1972 AMC Pacer
Vinyl Seats
AM/FM Radio with an 8 Track
Manual Steering
Manual Brakes
Automatic Transmission
Manual Windows
Manual Door Locks
Choice 2
2009 Ford Mustang
Leather Seats
AM/FM Stereo with CD & MP3 Player
Power Steering
Power Brakes with Anti-Lock
Automatic Transmission
Power Windows
Power Door Locks
Cruise Control
Tilt Steering
Heated Seats
Air Conditioning
Power Seats
Cruise Control
Tilt Steering
Air Conditioning
Power Seats
Rarely will someone decide that they want the Pacer. Most will want the convenience, styling, and modernization of the Mustang. The Pacer may have been a good choice years ago but its styling is dated and its obsolescence makes it irrelevant and unattractive to younger people.
The same goes with our churches. The programs and worship styles we use must be modernized to be more attractive to younger generations. If you have your ticket and are on your way to heaven, then church is no longer about what attracts you or what you are comfortable with. Our primary goal as Christians is to reach out to others and bring them into a relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus told us to “go into the world and compel them to come to Him”. We have to provide something attractive to be able to bring them to Him. Just because it was good enough for Granny (or me) does not mean it is still effective in today’s environment.
This is not to say that we should abandon the old ways. There are still people who will be attracted to Jesus by the old methods. However, you can go to some towns with churches on almost every corner and see that churches that use the old ways are plentiful. It’s what many people are comfortable with and they seem to think that if you want to come to Christ, you’ll have to conform to their ways because they will not change for you. Traditional churches are a dime a dozen and unfortunately, most of them are dying or have already died, they just haven’t noticed yet.
No one drives a Model T everyday, Hollywood does not make silent movies, nor does anyone watch a black and white TV anymore. If the rest of the world can change and embraces modern technology and methods, then why not the church? To once again be relevant and reach the world today, we must change. Not our beliefs, but our methods.
It will be a struggle, you may be alienated by so-called Christians and even friends, but the rewards far outweigh the costs.
GLW
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Troubles, Trials, Hills, Valleys
As an aged former rocker, I love many contemporary Christian bands. My favorite is Third Day (with apologies to MercyMe). The song that is on the top of my list is "Mountain of God".
The Lord sometimes gives me the opportunity to speak of how we can make it through any troubles and trials that come our way if we place our faith and trust in Him. There will be times that we feel we're going through our troubles all alone and that no one cares. Loneliness is something that can steal your happiness and joy when troubles come your way, bringing the overwhelming sense of depression into your life. Though I minored in counseling, I’m speaking from my personal experience. The events Christ has allowed me to go through the past three years have been very traumatic and there are times that I feel like my friends and family have deserted me, no one cares, and Christ seems like a distant figure that is busy with the other people and problems of the world. When we take the view that we’re all alone, defeat settles in.
During times like these, we have to look deep within and rely on Christ more than we ever have before. It can be difficult because human nature makes us want to isolate ourselves and withdraw from others. We want to handle our problems on our own and tough it out. Others may view it as a sign of weakness if we let them see that we’re vulnerable. Christ never designed us to be introverts. If we go back to the beginning and look at Adam, we see that God decided it wasn’t good for him to be alone so He created Eve as a companion. (Genesis 2:18-“and the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone”-NIV) People can grieve with us, comfort us, and cheer us up if we allow them to. Christ loves us more than we could ever imagine or deserve, He wants us to cast our worries and care on Him and promised to never leave us or turn His back on us. (1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you; Deuteronomy 31:8-“The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”-NIV)
In 1963, the United States Supreme Court made it illegal to have verbal prayer in America's public schools. The primary plaintiff of the court case was one of the best-known atheists, Madalyn Murray O'Hair. Through the years, she was very vocal in her support of atheism and the “ringleader” in the campaign against religion in public life. However, on August 27 1995, she vanished, leaving her car at an airport and $500,000 missing from the American Atheists Association bank account. The Internal Revenue Service seized Mrs. O'Hair's home and property for payment of creditors and back taxes, one of the items at auction were her diaries. An entry stated, "The whole idiotic hopelessness of human relations descends upon me. Tonight, I cried and cried, but even then feeling nothing." I was really struck by four words that Madalyn Murray O'Hair reportedly wrote at least half a dozen times over the years, "Somebody, somewhere, love me."
The cry for love in Mrs. O'Hair's diary, is the cry of every human heart, "Somebody, somewhere, love me." Even for many of us who do believe in God, there is still that awful hurting feeling. It's possible for us to believe in God, to do God's work, and to still miss out on the experience of His love. And without that love, the emptiness and loneliness in our heart is never satisfied - no matter how many loves we experience.
While you may not be an atheist, it could be that you've invested a lot in things that could easily become other gods: your career, your children, your projects, maybe your friends, your charity work, even your spiritual pursuits. But the deep, sense of aloneness seldom seems to go away. Every type of love has ultimately either failed you or failed to satisfy you. So, after all these years, your heart is still whispering - even shouting the same thing - "Somebody, somewhere, love me." I put my former Wife and my Children above Christ and the love He had for me and when they were all gone, suffered a tremendous blow from the void of their love. It was then I came to the realization that His love would never end whether I failed Him or not. I all had to do was to ask for Him to forgive my shortcomings and I was immediately restored in my walk with Him. Though others, and I, may remember my failures and bring them to mind, He never did or will. His love is unconditional and His forgiveness is unlimited.
Asking God to help you is easy. Developing a close relationship with Him is also easy. You can bring your shortcomings, hurts, loneliness, worries, cares, problems, etc. to Him no matter how large or small. He longs for us to have a close walk with Him and to provide you with an unloseable, unconditional, and immeasurable love. When all others fail, when all others turn their backs, when all others disappear, He will still be there patiently waiting for us. No matter what we’ve done or how hard we’ve fallen, He’ll still be there for us and love us. As a Christian, Jesus will be there with you. No matter how low the valley or how high the mountain, He is there with you.
Jesus is the "Somebody, somewhere" that your heart has been lonely for. And you don't have to live one more day without His love.
Mountain of God
The Lord sometimes gives me the opportunity to speak of how we can make it through any troubles and trials that come our way if we place our faith and trust in Him. There will be times that we feel we're going through our troubles all alone and that no one cares. Loneliness is something that can steal your happiness and joy when troubles come your way, bringing the overwhelming sense of depression into your life. Though I minored in counseling, I’m speaking from my personal experience. The events Christ has allowed me to go through the past three years have been very traumatic and there are times that I feel like my friends and family have deserted me, no one cares, and Christ seems like a distant figure that is busy with the other people and problems of the world. When we take the view that we’re all alone, defeat settles in.
During times like these, we have to look deep within and rely on Christ more than we ever have before. It can be difficult because human nature makes us want to isolate ourselves and withdraw from others. We want to handle our problems on our own and tough it out. Others may view it as a sign of weakness if we let them see that we’re vulnerable. Christ never designed us to be introverts. If we go back to the beginning and look at Adam, we see that God decided it wasn’t good for him to be alone so He created Eve as a companion. (Genesis 2:18-“and the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone”-NIV) People can grieve with us, comfort us, and cheer us up if we allow them to. Christ loves us more than we could ever imagine or deserve, He wants us to cast our worries and care on Him and promised to never leave us or turn His back on us. (1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you; Deuteronomy 31:8-“The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”-NIV)
In 1963, the United States Supreme Court made it illegal to have verbal prayer in America's public schools. The primary plaintiff of the court case was one of the best-known atheists, Madalyn Murray O'Hair. Through the years, she was very vocal in her support of atheism and the “ringleader” in the campaign against religion in public life. However, on August 27 1995, she vanished, leaving her car at an airport and $500,000 missing from the American Atheists Association bank account. The Internal Revenue Service seized Mrs. O'Hair's home and property for payment of creditors and back taxes, one of the items at auction were her diaries. An entry stated, "The whole idiotic hopelessness of human relations descends upon me. Tonight, I cried and cried, but even then feeling nothing." I was really struck by four words that Madalyn Murray O'Hair reportedly wrote at least half a dozen times over the years, "Somebody, somewhere, love me."
The cry for love in Mrs. O'Hair's diary, is the cry of every human heart, "Somebody, somewhere, love me." Even for many of us who do believe in God, there is still that awful hurting feeling. It's possible for us to believe in God, to do God's work, and to still miss out on the experience of His love. And without that love, the emptiness and loneliness in our heart is never satisfied - no matter how many loves we experience.
While you may not be an atheist, it could be that you've invested a lot in things that could easily become other gods: your career, your children, your projects, maybe your friends, your charity work, even your spiritual pursuits. But the deep, sense of aloneness seldom seems to go away. Every type of love has ultimately either failed you or failed to satisfy you. So, after all these years, your heart is still whispering - even shouting the same thing - "Somebody, somewhere, love me." I put my former Wife and my Children above Christ and the love He had for me and when they were all gone, suffered a tremendous blow from the void of their love. It was then I came to the realization that His love would never end whether I failed Him or not. I all had to do was to ask for Him to forgive my shortcomings and I was immediately restored in my walk with Him. Though others, and I, may remember my failures and bring them to mind, He never did or will. His love is unconditional and His forgiveness is unlimited.
Asking God to help you is easy. Developing a close relationship with Him is also easy. You can bring your shortcomings, hurts, loneliness, worries, cares, problems, etc. to Him no matter how large or small. He longs for us to have a close walk with Him and to provide you with an unloseable, unconditional, and immeasurable love. When all others fail, when all others turn their backs, when all others disappear, He will still be there patiently waiting for us. No matter what we’ve done or how hard we’ve fallen, He’ll still be there for us and love us. As a Christian, Jesus will be there with you. No matter how low the valley or how high the mountain, He is there with you.
Jesus is the "Somebody, somewhere" that your heart has been lonely for. And you don't have to live one more day without His love.
Mountain of God
Third Day
I thought that I was all alone, broken and afraid but You were there with me.
Yes, You were there with me.
And I didn't even know that I had lost my way but You were there with me.
Yes, You were there with me.
I thought that I was all alone, broken and afraid but You were there with me.
Yes, You were there with me.
And I didn't even know that I had lost my way but You were there with me.
Yes, You were there with me.
'Til You opened up my eyes I never knew, that I couldn't ever make it without You.
Even though the journey's long and I know the road is hard.
Well, the One who's gone before me He will help me carry on.
And after all that I've been through now I realize the truth.
That I must go through the valley to stand upon the mountain of God.
As I travel on the road that You have lead me down You are here with me.
Yes, You are here with me.
I have need for nothing more now that I have found that You are here with me.
Yes, You are here with me.
Yes, You are here with me.
I have need for nothing more now that I have found that You are here with me.
Yes, You are here with me.
I confess from time to time I lose my way,
But You are always there to bring me back again.
But You are always there to bring me back again.
Even though the journey's long and I know the road is hard.
Well, the One who's gone before me He will help me carry on.
And after all that I've been through now I realize the truth.
That I must go through the valley to stand upon the mountain of God.
Sometimes I think of where it is I've come from and the things I've left behind.
But of all I've had, what I possessed nothing can quite compare with what's in front of me.
But of all I've had, what I possessed nothing can quite compare with what's in front of me.
Even though the journey's long and I know the road is hard.
Well, the One who's gone before me He will help me carry on.
And after all that I've been through now I realize the truth.
That I must go through the valley to stand upon the mountain of God.
Yes I must go through the valley to stand upon the mountain.
Yes I must go through the valley to stand upon the mountain.
I thought that I was all alone broken and afraid but, You are here with me.
Yes, You are here with me.
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