Matthew 9:36
"Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd."
Sometimes I am not the most sympathetic person. There have been instances where I have looked a Soldier in the eye and said, "Just be a man!" in response to their hurt and frustration. I am so unlike Jesus still. Now, I don't think that Jesus put up with people's shenanigans but, what he did do was connect with them regardless of what they were going through and then reached out with love. Too often I think we take a look at this life and see people who are hurting or lost and our first thought is not about them at all. Our first thought is about what we are normally thinking about... ourselves. We see ourselves as the center of the life we are living instead of side characters in a grander scheme. We value our priorities over others and don't take the time to truly sympathize. We even will use other people's real life pain for our own benefit through all kinds of trickery and manipulation. But, instead, God sent this man down to earth to actually feel our pain, experience our grief, and shed tears, just to be the shepherd we all so desperately need. When you see someone's pain how do you react? What is your first thought? How can you reach out to the distressed and dispirited in your life today?
Monday, January 30, 2017
Friday, January 27, 2017
27Jan17
1 Corinthians 10:13
"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."
I have sat with people in some of the worst situations life can throw at you. I watch as families crumble or grow stronger during hardships. I listen as good natured people try to comfort those in troubles with the phrase, "Don't worry. God will never give you more than you can handle." I'm going to rant for a minute on this because that thought, although it may feel good in the moment, is destructive. Look at the verse above. Is God saying He'll never give you more than you can handle? This verse is what people are trying to quote. When we say that God will never give us more than we can handle we are putting the focus in the wrong place. First off, Paul is talking about temptations here... not tragedy. Not hardships. Not the death of a loved one. Secondly, who is providing the way out? When we say, "God will never give us more than we can handle" we attribute God with the hardship but, give ourselves the credit for the solution. We take that on ourselves and say, "I can handle this." But, most of the time you can't. Not by yourself. If God never gave us anything more than what we could handle on our own then we would never have a need for God, or our community, in the first place. We could handle it all on our own. That is such a dangerous thought. Hold fast to the promise that God WILL give you more than you can handle... but, not more than HE can handle. HE will provide a way out. It's not about you... it's about Him. What are you going through in your life right now that requires less of your effort and more of God's effort?
"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."
I have sat with people in some of the worst situations life can throw at you. I watch as families crumble or grow stronger during hardships. I listen as good natured people try to comfort those in troubles with the phrase, "Don't worry. God will never give you more than you can handle." I'm going to rant for a minute on this because that thought, although it may feel good in the moment, is destructive. Look at the verse above. Is God saying He'll never give you more than you can handle? This verse is what people are trying to quote. When we say that God will never give us more than we can handle we are putting the focus in the wrong place. First off, Paul is talking about temptations here... not tragedy. Not hardships. Not the death of a loved one. Secondly, who is providing the way out? When we say, "God will never give us more than we can handle" we attribute God with the hardship but, give ourselves the credit for the solution. We take that on ourselves and say, "I can handle this." But, most of the time you can't. Not by yourself. If God never gave us anything more than what we could handle on our own then we would never have a need for God, or our community, in the first place. We could handle it all on our own. That is such a dangerous thought. Hold fast to the promise that God WILL give you more than you can handle... but, not more than HE can handle. HE will provide a way out. It's not about you... it's about Him. What are you going through in your life right now that requires less of your effort and more of God's effort?
Thursday, January 26, 2017
26Jan17
Psalm 15:3-5
Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends. Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the LORD, and keep their promises even when it hurts. Those who lend money without charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent. Such people will stand firm forever.
How do you want to be remembered? Every day we are putting accomplishments and failures into the jars of our lives. Back in elementary school we would do a craft where we put different colored sands into a jar. We'd start with one color and lay down a layer and then add the next until the jar was full of different colors. Once it was full we'd put the lid on and "voilà"... art. I was so happy with mine... until I shook it up. Then all the colors blended together to reveal a nasty cacophony of color that generally just looked, like mud in a jar, brown. That's how our legacy is built though. Every day we have interactions with people that add sand to the jar. When we keep them consistent with our character, as we see in the verse above, then when it is shaken up at the end people may draw out a great color. But, when we throw in some nasty colors, horrible actions, offenses against people, then we end up with a nasty color that sums up how people remember us. No one wants to be remembered at "that guy" or "he was alright." We want to leave a lasting memory of greatness. So, start today. Add the good sand with every choice you make and every person you interact with. What does your sand art look like today?
Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends. Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the LORD, and keep their promises even when it hurts. Those who lend money without charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent. Such people will stand firm forever.
How do you want to be remembered? Every day we are putting accomplishments and failures into the jars of our lives. Back in elementary school we would do a craft where we put different colored sands into a jar. We'd start with one color and lay down a layer and then add the next until the jar was full of different colors. Once it was full we'd put the lid on and "voilà"... art. I was so happy with mine... until I shook it up. Then all the colors blended together to reveal a nasty cacophony of color that generally just looked, like mud in a jar, brown. That's how our legacy is built though. Every day we have interactions with people that add sand to the jar. When we keep them consistent with our character, as we see in the verse above, then when it is shaken up at the end people may draw out a great color. But, when we throw in some nasty colors, horrible actions, offenses against people, then we end up with a nasty color that sums up how people remember us. No one wants to be remembered at "that guy" or "he was alright." We want to leave a lasting memory of greatness. So, start today. Add the good sand with every choice you make and every person you interact with. What does your sand art look like today?
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
24Jan17
Proverbs 20:5
The purposes of a person's heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.
"Oblah Dee Oblah Dah. Life goes on. Yeah. Nah nah nah nah life goes on." This old Beatles lyric runs through my head when I don't always get what I want or have missed out on an opportunity. I think to myself, "Oh well. Life goes on." And this helps. But, the fact that my life, your life, is a constant stream of time and experience flowing from beginning to end can be a huge eye opener. We don't get to go back. What about all those missed opportunities? What about all those lost moments of our lives? What about the years I just woke up, went to a job I didn't like just for the money, came home, played video games for achievements that meant nothing, watched a movie to experience someone else's life, and went to bed just to do it all again the next day? As life moves on it is important, vitally so, that we grab a hold of the purpose that God put us on this earth for. It's imperative that we take the time to look at ourselves to find the passions of our hearts and then apply some effort to achieving those. Our heart is a deep well. Sometimes we don't pull up the prize with the first bucket. But, if you want to find that feeling of fulfillment you must take the time to draw out of yourself that purpose, that passion, that desire. Every day without it is just another Oblah Dee Oblah Dah kinda day. What is your purpose? Have you taken the time to draw it out?
The purposes of a person's heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.
"Oblah Dee Oblah Dah. Life goes on. Yeah. Nah nah nah nah life goes on." This old Beatles lyric runs through my head when I don't always get what I want or have missed out on an opportunity. I think to myself, "Oh well. Life goes on." And this helps. But, the fact that my life, your life, is a constant stream of time and experience flowing from beginning to end can be a huge eye opener. We don't get to go back. What about all those missed opportunities? What about all those lost moments of our lives? What about the years I just woke up, went to a job I didn't like just for the money, came home, played video games for achievements that meant nothing, watched a movie to experience someone else's life, and went to bed just to do it all again the next day? As life moves on it is important, vitally so, that we grab a hold of the purpose that God put us on this earth for. It's imperative that we take the time to look at ourselves to find the passions of our hearts and then apply some effort to achieving those. Our heart is a deep well. Sometimes we don't pull up the prize with the first bucket. But, if you want to find that feeling of fulfillment you must take the time to draw out of yourself that purpose, that passion, that desire. Every day without it is just another Oblah Dee Oblah Dah kinda day. What is your purpose? Have you taken the time to draw it out?
Friday, January 20, 2017
20Jan17
Mark 2:17
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
Recently I have been obsessed with the song "Heathens" by 21 Pilots. The main lyric is, "All my friends are heathens take it slow. Wait for them to ask you who you know. Please don't make any sudden moves. You don't know the half of the abuse." It just resonates so deeply with what we deal with in the Army on a frequent basis. I have been surprised by the level of monstrous experiences that many Soldiers have overcome, or are working on overcoming, to get to where they are today. Often I am convicted that, given the chance, Jesus would rather hang out with some of them than me. It is what drove me to the Army in the first place. I often will say, "I joined the Army, not the girl scouts." But, as Christians we are so eager to make sinners act like saints. We are so quick to group up and spend our time only with the like-minded in our lives. The problem with that is Jesus. All His friends were heathens and He loved them, respected them, even honored them. It's the most effective way to share the love with the world... act like He did. Who are your friends? Are you a loving influence in their lives?
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
Recently I have been obsessed with the song "Heathens" by 21 Pilots. The main lyric is, "All my friends are heathens take it slow. Wait for them to ask you who you know. Please don't make any sudden moves. You don't know the half of the abuse." It just resonates so deeply with what we deal with in the Army on a frequent basis. I have been surprised by the level of monstrous experiences that many Soldiers have overcome, or are working on overcoming, to get to where they are today. Often I am convicted that, given the chance, Jesus would rather hang out with some of them than me. It is what drove me to the Army in the first place. I often will say, "I joined the Army, not the girl scouts." But, as Christians we are so eager to make sinners act like saints. We are so quick to group up and spend our time only with the like-minded in our lives. The problem with that is Jesus. All His friends were heathens and He loved them, respected them, even honored them. It's the most effective way to share the love with the world... act like He did. Who are your friends? Are you a loving influence in their lives?
Thursday, January 19, 2017
19Jan17
Daniel 3:17-18
"If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty's hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
Compromise. We are told by relationship professionals that compromise is the key to a happy healthy marriage, workplace contentment, familial harmony, and many other things. The problem is that we are consistently told that we need to yield in so many areas of our lives for other peoples' benefit and to ensure that they are not "offended" by us that it slowly seeps into our faith. Forget that. It doesn't slowly seep... it makes a quick jump. I was challenged on this while leading the Garrison's high school boys in Bible study last night. In Daniel chapter 3 we see the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego being told they have to bow down to the golden statue of the king they, and their nation, is enslaved by. When they refused due to their faith in God, they are given one more personal chance by the king. But, they respond with the above passage of Scripture. They don't make excuses. They don't rationalize their position. They could say something like, "well, God's forgiving. I can just do this and ask for forgiveness." They don't rationalize and say, "I can do so much for my country and my faith in the position I'm in. If I do this then I can do so much more good later on." Nope. They don't compromise and they are thrown in a furnace to die. You can read the rest of the story from there. But, today I want you to think about where you are compromising. Are you willing to die for your faith? Are you willing to live for it? What is it that you rationalize doing in your own life?
"If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty's hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
Compromise. We are told by relationship professionals that compromise is the key to a happy healthy marriage, workplace contentment, familial harmony, and many other things. The problem is that we are consistently told that we need to yield in so many areas of our lives for other peoples' benefit and to ensure that they are not "offended" by us that it slowly seeps into our faith. Forget that. It doesn't slowly seep... it makes a quick jump. I was challenged on this while leading the Garrison's high school boys in Bible study last night. In Daniel chapter 3 we see the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego being told they have to bow down to the golden statue of the king they, and their nation, is enslaved by. When they refused due to their faith in God, they are given one more personal chance by the king. But, they respond with the above passage of Scripture. They don't make excuses. They don't rationalize their position. They could say something like, "well, God's forgiving. I can just do this and ask for forgiveness." They don't rationalize and say, "I can do so much for my country and my faith in the position I'm in. If I do this then I can do so much more good later on." Nope. They don't compromise and they are thrown in a furnace to die. You can read the rest of the story from there. But, today I want you to think about where you are compromising. Are you willing to die for your faith? Are you willing to live for it? What is it that you rationalize doing in your own life?
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
18Jan17
Jeremiah 32:17
"Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you."
On our vacation I had the chance to go to the Grand Canyon for the first time in my life. When we arrived it was late and the sun had already gone by. I was 10 hours into driving, the kids were being a little rowdy, and the roads around that area were not well marked or lit. So, I got a little turned around while we were trying to find our cabin in the middle of the night. We finally found it and I went to sleep. We got up the next morning and walked about half a mile to the edge of the canyon to watch the sunrise. It was one of the single most beautiful things I have ever seen. I felt really small. But, what I found interesting is that, while driving around the night before, I had driven right next to the canyon. I was right next to this amazing work of God's hands and I couldn't see it! I was frustrated, tired, and it was dark. But, right next to me was an experience that would change my perspective on my place in the world.
Sometimes when we feel overwhelmed, like something is too big for us, or tired we completely miss out on what God is trying to show us. The world seems really dark but, all we have to do is wait until morning and there is something amazing waiting at the sunrise. Nothing is too difficult for God to handle. While I looked at that huge hole in the ground, feeling so insignificant in the grand scheme of things, I was reminded that when you serve the God who could create something like that in an instant... nothing this world could throw at me would be too hard. I just may have to wait until the morning to see it.
"Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you."
On our vacation I had the chance to go to the Grand Canyon for the first time in my life. When we arrived it was late and the sun had already gone by. I was 10 hours into driving, the kids were being a little rowdy, and the roads around that area were not well marked or lit. So, I got a little turned around while we were trying to find our cabin in the middle of the night. We finally found it and I went to sleep. We got up the next morning and walked about half a mile to the edge of the canyon to watch the sunrise. It was one of the single most beautiful things I have ever seen. I felt really small. But, what I found interesting is that, while driving around the night before, I had driven right next to the canyon. I was right next to this amazing work of God's hands and I couldn't see it! I was frustrated, tired, and it was dark. But, right next to me was an experience that would change my perspective on my place in the world.
Sometimes when we feel overwhelmed, like something is too big for us, or tired we completely miss out on what God is trying to show us. The world seems really dark but, all we have to do is wait until morning and there is something amazing waiting at the sunrise. Nothing is too difficult for God to handle. While I looked at that huge hole in the ground, feeling so insignificant in the grand scheme of things, I was reminded that when you serve the God who could create something like that in an instant... nothing this world could throw at me would be too hard. I just may have to wait until the morning to see it.
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