Unexpected Strength

"I can do all this through Him who gives me strength"- Philippians 4:13 (NIV).

The car in front of me this morning had a sticker on the back window with Philippians 4:13. It was the perfect Scripture for my morning, having just completed a week of work requiring physical strength (which I have little of). The work included pushing, pulling, and moving heavy boxes of testing materials. Taking Scripture to heart, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters" (Colossians 3:23), I rolled up my sleeves and put my shoulder into the work. It was tempting to complain: this does not fall under my job description, I'm too old for this, my education is in educational leadership, not box handling...bottom line I would have been complaining against God, Who placed me there, dishonoring Him, and self-placing myself above such a menial job. I'm so glad I had the chance to work with the other "box handlers" and that I didn't miss out on our conversations about God's grace, love, and provision, while Christian music played in the background. It was a week of sweet communion. Another verse from Philippians serves our purpose here: [Jesus] emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant...He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death" (vs. 7-8). This has been a humbling week, filled with unexpected blessings, and unexpected strength, that I'm very thankful for Father.

Invitation Couriers

"The couriers went from town to town in Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as Zebulun, but people scorned and ridiculed them"- 2 Chronicles 30:10 (NIV).

When is the last time you invited someone to church? Hezekiah was trying to reestablish the celebration of Passover and sent out couriers inviting all of Judah, plus any of the remnant left in Israel after the Assyrians carried most of them off. This would bring the two kingdoms back together, since their split following Solomon's rule. Nevertheless, a large crowd assembled for the Festival of Unleavened Bread (vs. 11,13). The couriers suffered some scorn and ridicule at the invitation to come and worship God, yet they were obedient to their king. It's amazing how relevant the Bible is today. Our King wants us to invite people to worship, too; yes, we could possibly suffer the same scorn and ridicule. Fear turns some hearts timid to offering the invitation; however, we are to be obedient to our King. Just as Hezekiah had his celebration, we will too, but the harvest comes from God: "In Judah the Hand of God was on the people to give them unity of mind to carry out what the king and his officials had ordered, following the Word of the Lord" (v. 12). We are God's couriers of an invitation to come worship Him. Invite someone to church this Sunday.

Finding Your Way

"Desire without knowledge is not good--how much more will hasty feet miss the way!"- Proverbs 19:2 (NIV).

Quick: Whose slogan is "Have it your way?" They did away with their 40-year old slogan, May 19, 2014, and launched a new slogan: "Be Your Way." Their revenue is projected to be $250 billion by 2020. Last year, Burger King was the most valuable fast food brand worldwide. Today's Scripture might be overlooked as simple, but it is profound when fleshed out. It espouses the benefits of seeking wisdom and patiently trusting Jesus. We are a generation of wanting the "easy" and the "immediate," like a fast food drive through, but we forfeit desires and lose our way. We will never "Be Our Way." Our desires can only be found in taking delight in the Lord (Psalm 37:4). Our way is assured only when we commit it to the Lord, trusting Him (Psalm 37:5). All of life is centered around Jesus. That's worth repeating: All of life is centered around Jesus. He told us, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).  Jesus is not a fast food drive through. Delight yourself in the Lord and commit your way to Him, then you will have the desires of your heart and will not lose your way. Your way is found only in Jesus.

Mutual Acceptance

"Jesus answered him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise"- Luke 23:43 (NIV).

What is the best thing anyone has ever said to you? Was it a declaration of love, proposal of marriage, the coming of a new baby? Maybe it was hearing you got the job of your dreams, the house you always wanted, or that your illness or disease was gone. The thief on the cross, crucified beside Jesus, can easily answer that question: "Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise." Actually, the answer for the thief is the same answer every believer can share. When we take our final breath we will be with Jesus in paradise. The two most powerful words are "with Jesus." The promise of eternal life, with Jesus, is overwhelmingly the best thing anyone could ever hope for, and it's ours, freely given. We only need to accept Him as our Lord and Savior. I'm sure if Jesus were asked what the best thing anyone could ever say to Him would be, "I accept You as my Lord and Savior." Speak it out loud right now and feel the peace and joy radiate through you. That's powerful. That's mutual acceptance. 

Micromanager Confession

"Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails"- Proverbs 19:21 (NIV).

I have a confession to make: I am a micromanager. Not just of myself, but everyone and everything I have any influence over. This sin is a thorn in my side and I pray God will remove it, because I sure haven't had any success in doing so on my own. Micromanaging is how I internalize making the people and things I love safe and secure. which, in turn, keeps me from pain and hardship. I called the thorn a sin, because micromanaging is lack of faith. I'm one of the disciples, in the boat tossed by the violent storm, while Jesus slept on a pillow in the stern, one of the disciples who doubted Jesus could feed 4,000, when we had just seen Him feed 5,000, one of the disciples who thought all hope was lost after Jesus was crucified and buried, though He had told us He would rise from the dead. The sea was calmed, the 4,000 were fed, and Jesus rose from the grave. "What a wretched [person] I am! Who will rescue me from this body" (Romans 7:24)? The good news is that Jesus saves, He rescues us, He is the answer. We are in good company if the apostles bore the same thorn we all bear. Listen to God: "Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, 'My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please'" (Isaiah 46:9-10). Take heart, the Lord's purpose will prevail.

The Power of Light

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven"- Matthew 5:16 (NIV). 

My best friend is a teacher. She wrote the following in her morning email: "We don't have to have a Bible in our hand to spread the Message. We can teach by example: our students, our children and grandchildren, and anyone we come in contact with." In education, we call this the silent curriculum or, in layman's terms: "Actions speak louder than words."  You can sit in pitch black, strike a match, and everyone in the darkness can see it. It wouldn't matter how small the flame, even a spark would be seen. Evil is darkness; God is light (1 John 1:5). No amount of darkness can drive out light, but even the smallest amount of light can overcome darkness. Light goes beyond the physical (good deeds). Light is also a product of the fruit our faith produces: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. Darkness cannot stand before such things (Galatians 5:23).  Each time you do a good deed, or manifest a fruit of the spirit, you are bringing light into a world of darkness...and the light will be seen and the True Light will be glorified.