FINISH FORWARD

Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I do not count myself to apprehended, but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

There was a time in my life when I had no idea how a football game was played…IMAGINE THAT!  I knew you had a ball and a quarterback, then...I met Steve Niswonger!  I loved him, he loved me AND FOOTBALL, so our Autumn, Sunday afternoon dates were spent at his house watching his beloved Chicago Bears.  I loved to hear his voice as he patiently explained every play and position…I actually retained some of the knowledge.  God knew He would bless me with 2 boys, so it was all preparation for the future.

Now, I enjoy Saturday afternoon, Michigan Wolverine and Sunday afternoon, Chicago Bear football (almost) as much as my guys and…I actually listen to the commentators instead of analyzing every play and player on my own.  Now you understand why this quote caught my attention…

The sign of a good Running Back is he always finishes forward with his legs moving toward the goal. (football commentator)

Think about it, read it again, let it percolate in there; now sit back and digest what you just read.  Every player wants the ball.  If you are on Offense, you want the Hand-off or the Pass to come to you.  If you are on Defense, your dream is to catch an interception or recover a fumble and run into the End Zone for a score.

Whether in ministry or sitting on a pew, we have all thought (or at least I have) “if I could just get my hands on the ball” or “if they would only hand the ball over to me;” or perhaps you have even had the opportunity to “recover a fumble.”  NOW WHAT?  What do you do now that you have the “ball” in your hands?”

REMEMBER…the person with the ball always becomes the target.

So, “God hands you the ball,” you finish your VICTORY DANCE, and prepare to move forward.  Suddenly you realize, I may have the ball but the path to the goal will not be easy.  Not only are there huge obstacles between you and the End Zone, but they are coming at you from all sides.  You may have a few teammates “prayer-blocking” for you, but there is a Storm of Opposition, who is focused on keeping you from reaching the goal and possibly take the “ball” away from you in the process.

Remember the quote…Keep moving TOWARD the goal and if you get knocked down, FINISH FORWARD!

Dear Lord, no matter how big an opposition continues to come at me or even the times it seems as if out of nowhere I get blindsided, help me always FINISH FORWARD, with my legs moving TOWARD THE GOAL.

MORE THAN A BRACELET

John 6:38 For I came down from Heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me.

WWJD-What would Jesus do? Several years ago, a whole marketing campaign made these 4 letters a pop culture phrase among Christians.  They have appeared on bumper stickers, bracelets, coffee mugs, wall plaques and in the title of books. And long before we reduced “Christian Behavior” to 4 letters, many of us sang this old song…

“To be like Jesus, to be like Jesus, on earth I long to be like Him.  All through life’s journey, from earth to glory, I only ask to be like Him.”

Oh we have the correct ACRONYMN and the older saints sang the correct words, but is our behavior matching the letters on our bracelet?  Are the words we sing, just lyrics to an old hymn?  What about life’s twists and turns?  What about facing adversity?  What about Facebook posts?  What about when someone doesn’t agree with our opinion?   What about current events?  Can we or do we ask WWJD? Or have we come to believe that there are some issues that just are not God’s concern? 

So, I’ll pick two topics…the two topics that are NEVER to be discussed in polite society, on the job or at family gatherings; the two topics that can cause the closest friends and family members to argue, shout at each other and refuse to communicate for days, weeks or even years.  Yep, you guessed them…POLITICS AND RELIGION…WWJD?

On Politics and Religion….

WWJD-What would Jesus do?

Jesus was born into an Imperial world, ruled by Caesar, without the privilege or opportunity to vote.  But what if Jesus had been born in the United States? And with what religion would He be associated? 

My thoughts…As a citizen, He WOULD vote but NOT debate and would not identify with any religious system because not one of them, EVEN YOURS, would mesh with the mission for which He was sent.

Regarding politics…Jesus was born in Bethlehem because his parents had journeyed to their city of origin to be counted in a census; obviously, He was raised by parents that believed and taught Him to be a law-abiding citizen. Jesus paid taxes and instructed his disciples to “render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s.”

Regarding religion…If anyone could get on Jesus’ “last nerve,” it was the religious folk.  He would take the time to bless the children, go out of his way to encounter the “woman at the well,” stop a funeral procession or feed 5,000 hungry people but he had no patience with the superior attitude and behavior of those flaunting their religion.  He not only cast those out of the temple courtyard who wanted to use the law as a profitable enterprise, but He called the Religious leaders vipers and whitewashed sepulchers…SNAKES AND RECEPTICLES OF DEATH AND DECAY!

His mission was not to overthrow political leaders or reform religion; it was to fulfill the will of His Father.

WDSD-What does Susan do?

She becomes so consumed with politics; trumpeting her opinion with self-righteous indignation, daring anyone to disagree with her superior revelations.

And as to religion?  Oh, she is close to perfect in her religious pursuits…praying and reading the scripture daily, giving to the poor, supporting the church…HOLD ON JUST A MINUTE, putting it in writing makes it sound so Pharisaical. 

Could it be that I am so focused on BEING right in my philosophy and DOING right by following religious tenants, that the will of my Father has been cast aside, neglected and gathering dust.

Colossians 3:2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

Oh God, I need forgiveness.  Forgive me for focusing on those things that are temporal.  Forgive me for endless debating instead of sharing the Good News.  Forgive me for pushing my opinion rather than seeking Your Truth.  Forgive me for pursuing my desires instead of following Your Will.  I ask that you cover me with Grace, that I may not only wear the bracelet, but that I may know WWJD and my behavior will bring Glory to Your Name.

THE WORD OF THE LORD WAS RARE

1 Samuel 3:1 Now the boy, Samuel, ministered to the Lord before Eli.  And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation.

We watch the news; we shake our heads in disbelief and ask, “How did we come to this?”  I believe the verse in 1 Samuel explains our condition…“The word of the Lord has become rare; there is no widespread revelation.”

When the word of the Lord becomes rare, our behavior becomes more self-satisfying.

When the word of the Lord becomes rare, our speech becomes base and irreverent.

When the word of the Lord becomes rare, we treat each other with disdain.

When the word of the Lord becomes rare, morality becomes self-defined.

When the word of the Lord becomes rare, we raise a generation that no longer recognizes the voice of the Lord.

When the word of the Lord becomes rare, our minds become so numb to truth that we begin to believe a lie.

When the word of the Lord becomes rare, we find ourselves pushing aside the Holy until the profane becomes the new normal.

When the word of the Lord becomes rare, we defend sin.

What do we do?  As a nation, are we too far gone?  How do we make the word of the Lord precious again?  How can we receive fresh revelation?  Once again, I go to the written Word of the Lord…

2 Chronicles 7:14 If My people, who are called by My Name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

ENCOURAGE YOURSELF

1 Samuel 30:6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters; but David ENCOURAGED HIMSELF in the Lord his God.

YOU CAN DO IT!!!  YOU CAN LIVE FOR GOD ANYWHERE AND UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE!!!

Talk about a bad day; talk about your friends forsaking you; talk about standing all alone…life was coming at David fast and furious and soon it could even include some well-aimed stones.  David had arrived home with his team of mighty men to find that not only had the city been invaded and burned by the enemy but all of their wives, sons and daughters had been taken captive.  Instead of the men having an Emergency Strategy Session to formulate a plan to rescue their families; they turned their pain to anger against David, their leader.  I’m not sure how STONING would help their captured women and children, but deep pain is rarely rational.

How was David going to handle this situation?  Write a Psalm begging God to save him?  Maybe!  Run and hide from his angry men?  The thought probably occurred to him.  Take the anger directed at him and transfer it as blame toward God?  Not for a moment!!!  DAVID HAD A HISTORY WITH GOD!

This was the same God who gave him songs as he sat on the hillside with his sheep.  The same God who gave him the strength to slay the lion and the bear as they attacked the flocks…yeah but the lion and the bear couldn’t pick up stones.  It was the same God that directed the stone from David’s sing toward Goliath to deliver Israel from its adversary.  It was the same God that had sent Samuel to anoint him, in his youth, to one day be king.  It was the same God that had preserved him all the years from King Saul’s anger and jealousy.  SO…David stepped forth, surrounded by his God-history, focused on the Heavens and ENCOURAGED HIMSELF IN THE LORD!!!

BEEN THERE, well not really…my family has not been carried into captivity and my friends are not standing in front of my home with stones in their hands…but I have felt forsaken and all alone.  Looking back over my life, I think of the cities God has placed us in that did not have churches.  Then He placed us in churches that did not have people.  Stones were not flying but they may have been easier to deflect than the woman who stuck her fingers in her ears, so she didn’t have to hear me play the piano or the person who refused to play the drums, if I was doing the music.  OR maybe it was the families who left because we didn’t have all of the “big church” programs or the pastor who sabotaged our efforts and lied to us or maybe it was the congregation that told us to start another church in town because they no longer wanted us to be their pastor.

And I could continue…But you see, I HAVE A HISTORY WITH GOD and I made up my mind to BE FAITHFUL TO THE ONE WHO HAS NEVER FAILED and I learned to ENCOURAGE MYSELF IN THE LORD!!!

YOU CAN DO IT!!! YOU CAN LIVE FOR GOD ANYWHERE AND UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE!

You may feel all alone; Jesus will be your Friend, your Mother, Father, Sister, or Brother; no one will love you like Jesus.  You may feel that you are in the midst of a storm; He will come to your storm, even if it means walking on the water; He will calm the waves and still your storm.  You may feel betrayed and wounded; He will soothe your breaking heart and bind up your wounds; Jesus has been there too.  Look back over your history with God.

ENCOURAGE YOURSELF IN THE LORD!!!

Just a few minutes in His Presence makes all the difference.  Your circumstances may NOT change, but your view of those circumstances will be very different and YOU WILL BE ENCOURAGED to continue your journey.

THE WORK HE HAS STARTED

Do you ever have one of those days when you feel totally inadequate; especially when it comes to your spiritual gifts and calling?  You look back over your life, searching for at least one tiny success but the only visible evidence is a broken attempt here, a shattered dream there, a still bleeding wound, a few bruises and many scars. These make up your only testimony to the true picture of the ministry God placed in your heart. That pretty much describes my perception as I knelt to pray this morning and all I could do was weep.

I wept over missed opportunity, my own willful choices, the failure of my heart to discern properly what God was saying, trying so hard to follow God’s direction but failing so miserably or so it seemed looking at the outcome.  In the middle of my prayer, I inserted a few prayer requests, and then wept because my petitions were so lukewarm and drowning in the whirlpool of my personal discouragement.  I followed my prescription of thanksgiving and praise but still, I could only weep.

At last the tears stopped and I opened my Bible to the chapters for today; Psalms and Philippians.  HE DID IT AGAIN!!!!  What a comfort…God knows exactly what we need.  When I am too consumed to hear His whispers of love, He will use His Word to assure me that He cares; He hasn’t forgotten me and I am still a work in progress.

I always read a Psalm first and this morning it just “happened” to be Psalms 138…

Psalms 138:8 The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; your mercy, oh Lord endures forever; do not forsake the works of your hands.

WOW!!! My heart began to beat again.  I’m not perfect; I’ve made mistakes: I haven’t always heard or understood the directions properly, but because of His mercy, HE WILL PERFECT THAT WHICH CONCERNS ME. 

Resting in the comfort and safety of His strong arms, I turned to my next reading of the day.  It just “happened” to be Philippians 1:6…

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

COINCIDENCE????  I don’t think so!!!  I prefer to call it AMAZING LOVE!  Not only is He perfecting that which concerns me but He will finish all that He has started. PRAISE BREAK!!!

Right there on the floor, all I could do was raise my hands to Heaven and Praise.  He is a good, good Father.

I become so impatient…His plan isn’t the way I had envisioned; I’m not where I thought I would be; sometimes life becomes so confusing and all I can do is put one foot in front of the other and most of the time I’m on a “need to know” basis…God doesn’t reveal all the details until I “need to know.”

When I finally come to the end of my own understanding and place all the mess and confusion in His capable hands, He takes the time to gently remind me through His Word, that I am exactly where He wants me to be…on His HOLY WORKBENCH, where He can put the “Finishing Touches” on the “Good Work” He has begun in me. 

As to the IMPATIENCE????  I might as well brace myself for the “long haul.”  Philippians assures me the work will not be complete until the “Day of the Lord.”

FOR HE IS GOOD

Psalms 136:1 Oh give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good; for His mercy endures forever.

As I read Psalms 136, during devotions this morning, verse 1, echoed over and over in my mind; “Give thanks unto the Lord because HE IS GOOD!!!  That line pretty much says it all and negates the thought, “What do I have to be thankful for?”

The Psalmist continues in verses 4 – 25 to recount the historical evidence of God’s goodness with an utterance of praise at the end of each instance… “For His mercy endures forever.”

If you look at your life, your circumstance, your trials, your personal storm and you think, “Thankful? I see nothing to be thankful for,” try this little exercise and see if by the end you can’t help but join the Psalmist in the awe-filled praise, “God is good for His mercy endures forever.”

TRY IT…start recounting the HISTORICAL EVIDENCE in your own life….

To Him that has known me from my Mother’s womb; for His mercy endures forever.

And has a great plan for my life; for His mercy endures forever.

Who has loved me with an everlasting love; for His mercy endures forever.

He guided me through childhood, the pitfalls of adolescence, and continued throughout my adult years; for His mercy endures forever.

Has made a way through His sacrifice on the cross that I can be reconciled back to Him; for His mercy endures forever.

Gave me the gift of His Holy Spirit to lead me into Truth, daily guide me along the journey, send comfort in sorrow and give me a promise of eternal life with Him; for His mercy endures forever.

Has made Himself manifest in my life as my provider, my healer, my champion, and my protector…for His mercy endures forever.

Daily, He loads me with benefits, for His Mercy endures forever.

Filled me with JOY and HOPE; for His Mercy endures forever.

He will NEVER leave or forsake me; He will hold my hand along this journey and someday lead me into His glorious presence; for His mercy endures forever.

He is my Soon-coming King; for His mercy endures forever.

Now I know, you are praising Him with me, so go ahead and add a few praises of your own; praises reflecting your personal HISTORICAL EVIDENCE.  We serve a GOOD GOD; the GOD OF gods; the LORD OF lords; the GOD OF HEAVEN!!!

Psalms 136:26 Oh give thanks unto the God of Heaven; for His mercy endures forever.

STILL I WILL TRUST

Psalms 91:1-2 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him will I trust.”

It is becoming the new normal…every morning, it seems, there is another report of a shooter, a knife-wielding attacker, bomb scare or terror threat.  Fear, anxiety, apprehension are becoming familiar emotions.  The attacks are not confined to “bad areas.”  They can happen at the mall, a movie theater, a high school or elementary school, a restaurant, driving down the highway, walking along a sidewalk and even at church.  Is there any place we can go and feel totally safe?

I have never been a fear-filled person.  Oh, I lock my doors at night and try to be aware of the people around me as I walk out of the store toward my car, but in general, I do not spend much time anticipating danger, especially attacks.  But lately…

Steve and I were coming down a mountain trail in Vermont.  Aware of the lengthening shadows and the darkness that quickly envelops the wooded paths; we were only about 5 minutes from the trailhead and our vehicle, when a man approached us going up the mountain.  He was nicely dressed; we had on shorts and t-shirts.  He had on leather-soled shoes; we wore hiking shoes.  He was very polite when he asked how far it was to the lake and I felt no fear, although we were on a secluded mountain path.  I told him the lake wasn’t too far around the bend and cautioned him about the time and the approaching darkness.  He thanked us, turned around and ran back down the mountain.  I FELT NO FEAR, until…Steve said, “That was weird. Did you notice he had no camera? I didn’t feel comfortable, if someone ever attacks us, you be prepared to run.”  Suddenly, I FELT FEAR!

We arrived at the trailhead and didn’t see anyone.  Was Steve right?  Should I have been afraid?  Is fear the new normal?

Last night, the daughter of a friend went to the mall with her two babies, something we all do without much thought.  As she approached the store, the manager told her to get inside, there was an active shooter and they were going to lockdown.  Many people began to pray and she is safe at home but every day, there are some who don’t make it home safely.  SHOULD WE BE AFRAID?

Psalms 91:5-6 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lies wait at noonday.

We live in evil or what the Bible call, “PERILOUS TIMES.”  We must be aware and not stick our “heads in the sand.”  But, I REFUSE TO LIVE IN FEAR!  Oh it’s true, Men and Women do horrible things to each other and sometimes these horrible things happen to faith-filled Christians…but still I WILL ABIDE IN THE SHADOW OF THE ALMIGHTY; still I WILL TRUST!