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Isolated but Not Alone
“Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.” John 6:15 ESV
“Do you have any friends?” I remember those haunting words from a mentor of mine when I was transitioning from leading one company to starting another. His question caught me off guard to which I answered, ‘of course I do.’ He then commented, “now that you no longer are writing checks, let me know how many ‘friends’ you have.”
“Some friends play at friendship, but a true friend sticks closer than one’s nearest kin.” Proverbs 18:24 MSG
Tragic comments that laid bare the shallowness of my life. Associations resulting from an identity outlined on a business card. ‘Friendships’ defined by what I can do for you and you for me. Hollow. Temporary. Broken individuals equally struggling to have value and importance assigned through career versus care.
“Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.” 1 Corinthians 3:18 ESV
The concept of alone is frightening to many while others define a desire to be alone as a personality trait. To each their own…alone.
I love reading the Bible through each year and gleaning more overlooked and incredibly empowering bits of information each year. This year as I pursue the discipline of listening, scripture has revealed the power and gift of ‘alone.’ I read about Moses alone with God on Mt. Sinai, David as he fled King Saul, Elijah as he fled Queen Jezebel. Jesus is frequently referenced placing himself in an isolated place. Why?
There is a preponderance today that says more is more. Crowded lives and crowded minds. “Social media.” “Vacations” that take us from the crowded streets of home to crowded avenues, beaches, long wait times for dinner. Families fragmented by screens that occupy our minds and become the context of reality. The beauty of quiet and simple denied as old and isolating versus the truth of peace and introspection.
Will you allow me to introduce you to a quiet and immeasurably valuable one on one relationship with God the Father? He meets with us through scripture and prayer. We are everlastingly connected to him through his son, Jesus, when we accept him as our Savior. He gifts us with the presence of the Holy Spirit that inhabits us. We are NEVER alone.
God is omnipresent. Especially in our lives. Consider that as his daughter or son, you are never alone. Consider that Satan through the World is deceiving you when you feel alone. There is no alone when you are God’s child. The simple truth is that he loves when we are “alone” with him. As I read scripture, I am drawn to the truth that the greatest defense we have against the lies of the enemy is the truth of God’s presence in our lives.
So today, reject the lie of alone. Reject the lie that noise is community. Reject the thought that more is more and accept that ‘more’ may be denying you the most, that is an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. He loves you unconditionally and places you in environments where you can most easily and clearly find and hear him.
“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17 KJV
Cherish the true friends that God has gifted your life with. Guard your heart by trusting God to only allow those into your life that contribute truth and honest encouragement in your life. Be a source of hope and genuine friendship to those who open their hearts to you. They need you as you need them.
So reject the lie of alone. You are God’s daughter or son. You are never alone. Change your thinking from the sin of sadness and loneliness by replacing that mental state with the truth of an always present Heavenly Father in the Trinity.
“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” Philippians 4:4 KJV
You’ve got this.
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”You can’t. I can!
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 NKJV
Look to your left and to your right. Look in front of you and behind you. What do you see?
Yesterday Megan, my wife took a step of obedience that she had wanted to take a week earlier when I stopped her. I stopped her with comments like “we’re going to pray about this. We may use this through a variety of areas,” etc, etc, etc…
The truth is I was afraid. I was afraid to be obedient when I knew deep in my heart that fear stood between me and a faithful act. So my amazing partner patiently waited for my heart to be reconciled and then she did what she knew was right when my fear was assuaged. She carried me in my moment of fear. I pray God places a Megan in your life. What a priceless gift my wife is.
“The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalms 27:1
Trust God that those people that he has or desires to place at your right, your left, your front, your back. Trust that there is purpose in your doubts. There is purpose in your fears. There is purpose in your facing a crevasse in front of you with no discernible bottom. God says to you, the abyss in front of you is my eternity for you if you will take my hand and take a step. Those people in your life whose hands you can hold very well may be the hands of God in human form saying “I have you my beloved daughter or son.”
I recall when our kids were younger they would run into our arms when they were afraid. They did this not because they were not wanting to grow and develop, but because in that moment they needed their mom or dad to say “I have you. It’s okay. We’ll do this together.” How much more our Father in Heaven says this to us in the face of doubt and fear. He loves when we press into him. He loves when he feels our heartbeat against his. He loves when we allow him to be our daddy.
So when you doubt today and face what your heart says is a giant, remember our brother Moses. The stumbler of words. The murderer who fled Egypt for fear. Think of a man living in exile that was appointed by God to go before the most powerful man on Earth at that time and bring him to his knees. Remember who had Moses in that season also has you in your season. Walk boldly in the truth that the “I AM WHO I AM” is your father. Your savior. Your protector. Your encourager. Your daily planner. You are because HE IS.
“Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What
is his name?’ what shall I say to them? God said to Moses, “ I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘ I AM has sent me to you.’” Exodus 3:13-14 ESVToday, release the crippling fear that consumes areas of your life and replace them with the humble boldness that reflects the Savior. You are God’s daughter or son who is at your right, your left, your front, your back, your heartbeat, your breath. What can come against you?
“fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 ESV
You’ve got this
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Reject the Fear of Rejection
“But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.” And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.” Matthew 13:57-58. NIV
What if Jesus would have allowed the life limiting views of the people of his hometown, Nazareth, to determine his ministry and impact? We certainly know this would never have happened because he was God’s Son in human form. But consider that he was rejected by those who arguably knew him best, because of his family and upbringing.
“Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at him.” Matthew 13:55-57 NIV
So here he was, performing miracles, healing the sick, speaking with undeniable wisdom and providing viewpoints on scripture never heard nor considered, and sin showed up. When the people were astounded at his teaching, they just could not get beyond his upbringing. Frankly, they could not get out of their own sinful ways of judging and receive the gift that stood among them.
“Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked.” Matthew 13:54 NIV
So when Jesus came and they just had time to receive and consider his teaching, they were amazed. The message of truth and hope that he taught amazed them. The depth of knowledge and the truth of his message amazed them. They were amazed, then sin crept in.
I know so many really wonderful people. God has blessed me with the gift of amazing people in my life. People who sharpen me. Challenge me. Correct me. Encourage me. Pray for me. People who know me and yet still love me. God’s love for me is shown in its greatest form by the people that he has gifted into my life.
I find it profoundly sad that many amazingly gifted people that I know hide their talent for fear of rejection. They bury the talent as the parable teaches because of fear of response. There is an all too human element that says “don’t risk and don’t be vulnerable” because of the chance of rejection. So the World is denied the gift of many people’s contribution because of the risk and fear of rejection.
Thomas Edison said when asked about the process of developing the light bulb: “I have not failed 10,000 times—I’ve successfully found 10,000 ways that will not work.” He then went on to say “If we all did the things we are really capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.” So if Edison chose fear of rejection because of failure, the World might have toiled in the dark for many more years or decades.
While I love to write and be a storyteller, there is risk in exposing my heart. There is risk in sharing things that are intimate to me with a broader audience. My sharing what’s God places in my heart exposes my limited intellect and untrained writing ability. I choose to share because I choose to believe that there is a message in my thoughts for someone. That is way more than enough.
As I write this I think of several wonderfully talented people that I know who are standing on the sideline because of doubt or hurt. I think of numerous people who have drawn within themselves because of hurt received from equally broken people. Oh how I pray that they will just trust and choose gifts over fear. The World desperately needs the gifts of everyone sidelined by fear of rejection. The World needs you!
I think of my beautiful friend who shed her cocoon of doubt and brokenness, who now showers literally thousands each week with her incredible talents of singing, leading and walking alongside her Pastor husband as they build our church’s newest campus. Thank you, Kim for rejecting the sin of doubt and releasing the God-given talents delivered through your generous smile to so many. Thank you for exemplifying courage in the face of doubt. Thank you for rejecting the limitations of rejection and replacing them with the multiplying effect of courage and encouragement.
75% of people have a fear of public speaking. There was a practice when preparing to speak publicly that taught to ‘view your audience as if they are in their underwear.’ The thought process being, realize that your audience is just made up of people like you. Recognizing that people who may reject what you are contributing are equally broken, sinful and in need may help you accept that your contribution is a needed gift worth the risk.
Lastly I believe Jesus teaches us to focus on the areas and the people who accept us and encourage us. He teaches us that there is so much ground needing plowed (people needing your gifts), that wasting time with people who don’t accept your gifts is well, simply a waste of your valuable and limited time. Pray for those who reject your gifts because they are equally broken. Pray that they too will move from judging to contributing. Recognize that they are God’s children, whose gifts far exceed their limiting opinions. They have value as you have value.
“But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings, and the children of Israel: for I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name’s sake.” Acts 9:15-16 ASV
You’ve got this.
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The Blanket’s Sustaining Source
“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” Isaiah 1:18 NKJV
“Are you washed in the blood,
In the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless?
Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?” E.A. Hoffman 1878When Megan and I lived on West 43rd in New York City in the mid-2000’s, I remember how excited we were when the first snowfall occurred. The city received a beautiful blanket of white, freshly fallen snow that covered the streets and all the ugliness that are a part of the city. There were very few cars moving and the streets became large sidewalks, easy to navigate. The city became more quiet. People spoke to one another and looked out for one another. There was a calm and peace that invaded the normally hectic environment of the city.
As the snow began to melt, the beautiful white covering gave way to gray sludge and torrents of water running down the streets and into the city’s sewers. At the same time large and often several inches deep puddles formed, making navigating difficult. And as the melting occurred the noise, the hectic activity and the cold of the large city returned. Typically the residents would have to carry shoes with them to work as they wore rubber boots to push back against the wet and dirty of the melt.
I write this because we have been blessed with an unusually large East TN snowstorm and bitter cold that has caused the area to come to a halt for days. Today the temperature is forecast to be in the upper 30’s and the inevitable melt will begin. Only to have a second blast of Arctic air coming that will cause hard freezes again. There is an old saying that goes ‘you can’t control the weather.’ Truth!
So much like the saying that we cannot control the weather, life takes on a more simplistic understanding and joyful acceptance if we acknowledge that we cannot control what happens in our lives, only how we respond. I read a great book years ago and one of many epiphanies that came out was that while we cannot control what happens, we can control how we respond. The theme was replacing a “he/she made me mad” mentality with a “only I can allow someone to make me mad.” The control comes in the response to what is uncontrollable.
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7 ESV
So I write about the snow that came and beautifully blanketed, that will melt and take on the form of water. The melt creates flooding, that causes erosion, mud and returns the landscape as it looked before. The same snow, now water, now likely flooding and causing issues is still the life-sustaining fluid that we are all dependent upon, beautiful in the form of white, pure snow now liquified. Water in whatever form is God’s provision for our life’s health.
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,”. Isaiah 55:10 ESV
There is a life parallel to the observation of snow and one’s life. We tenaciously pursue what we are passionate about and high-five ourselves and others when we achieve what was pursued. Then as the achievement ages, there is a tendency to discount the achievement and allow cracks to occur. The pursuit and achievement becomes tarnished with age and the memory more foggy. Oftentimes the memory focuses solely on the negatives of the pursuit instead of the life sustaining impact of the achievement.
There are professions that require ongoing education and learning. I have accountant, medical doctor, engineering, etc., friends that must take a certain number of hours of education each year to maintain their certifications. They are perpetual learners. While many of them struggle in their assigned profession, few to any fail. The profession is sustained by being fed and the individual empowered by the knowledge gained.
So today my encouragement to you is to commit to being a perpetual learner in Christ. Recognize that while there may be seasons of beautiful white in your life, God is also in the gray sludge of melting. That he provides and controls in all seasons and situations. Find the beauty of a life sold out to Jesus by understanding that the joy is in the journey, not some self created achievement. We serve a perpetual God, who simply asks us to perpetually trust and walk with him in every season and situation of life. Commit to become a professional Christ follower. The greatest life-sustaining food you will ever ingest is found in the pages of God’s life letters, the Bible, written specifically for his kids.
“Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters.” Proverbs 25:13 ESV
You’ve got this. He has you!
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What the Mind Hears
If you will listen, the World will lie to you and limit you.
“Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I am reminded of my shortcomings.”” Genesis 41:9 NIV. (He remembered Joseph, two years after Joseph helped him be restored.)
One of my favorite stories in the Bible is the story of Joseph. As a guy that deals with doubt and questions God’s purpose for my life and use of my life, Joseph is my great example of hope and patience.
“The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.” Genesis 38:23 NIV
Joseph’s story is one of a young boy, loved unequally by his father. He was resented by his older brothers and through no fault of his own, sold as a slave in Egypt. His story is a true penthouse to outhouse story. The World would say he was a victim. That he had a right to sulk, to underperform, to have a bad attitude. To limp through life because of his circumstances that were no fault of his own.
“The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did.” Genesis 39:2-3
So Joseph found himself a slave to the equivalent of the Joints Chiefs of Staff of Pharaoh’s guard, Potiphar. A bad dude no doubt with a big title and responsibility back it up. And we learn in Joseph’s story that he approached his enslavement with such conviction and commitment that Potiphar placed him in charge of his entire household, which no doubt was deep and wide with servants and people. A slave boy from a detested Country entrusted with an important job because he accepted where God had placed him. Then through no fault of his own, Potiphar’s wife wanted him.
“Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!”” Genesis 39:6-7 NIV
“When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is how your slave treated me,” he burned with anger. Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined.” Genesis 39:19-20 NIV
So we learn that Joseph’s father loved him more than his ten older brothers. Not his fault. Then he is sold into slavery. Not his fault. Then he is thrown into prison. Not his fault. Then he is forgotten by the guy he helped get out of prison. Not his fault. And in all of this we see that he approached every season of his short life with such commitment and purpose that he rose to be trusted and in charge of all those around him.
God allows good and bad things to happen to us because he loves us. He allows us to work through frustration and despair because he wants us to understand that he is with us in all seasons. He allows us to be taken from comfort to concern, from peace to conflict, from satisfaction to discontent because he is growing us.
Joseph was left in that prison, that the Bible described as a dungeon, for two more years after he helped the chief cupbearer be restored to his royal position. The chief cupbearer forgot. Joseph was toiling away in a dungeon. God was at work.
Joseph’s story is remarkable and human nature causes us to focus on the amazing highlights. The Bible tells us the travails and successes of Joseph. Human nature says, let’s focus on the good stuff. Sinful nature says, only focus on the good stuff. The result, the reward, without acknowledging the dirty, hard, desperate work and abuse that Joseph no doubt suffered for those 15 years from being sold into slavery, to being awarded the number two position in all of Egypt. Sinful nature says God is so good when things go the way we want. God says things are best when you allow me to direct your steps.
Can I assure you that God does not play fair. If he did, we would all be destined to Hell. God’s timing is typically frustrating and oftentimes leads us right to the edge of the precipice, where we scream out his name in desperation. Why? Because he knows us. He knows our hearts. He knows our independence. He knows that we naively believe we are in charge of our lives. He knows us, because he created us.
I don’t know what season you are in. If I am honest, I feel like I am in a season of drought. Lacking influence and impact but I eagerly accept that God is doing a work in me. He tells me that I must grow and surrender before he uses me as he plans.
There is an old saying that says “there are no atheists in foxholes.” Can I tell you there are no victims where achievers roam. Joseph chose to achieve and lead in every situation that he was unjustly placed.
You have a choice today. To continue the ‘that’s not fair’ road too easy to travel with the World’s encouragement, or to change your trajectory and say ‘I don’t know why, but I will trust and perform at my absolute best.’ I encourage you to approach today with the attitude that reflects the position or place that you want to be, not the place of your current circumstances.
God knows the desires of your heart.
You’ve got this.
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Beauty in the Storm
“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 NLT
Yesterday the East TN area where we live had a major snowstorm. A ‘snowmaggedon’ is you will. At our house we had over 12” of snow, much to the delight of all of us. It was and is beautiful.
Snowstorms are great metaphors of life. If you choose to be out driving in the snow, it becomes a storm. The falling snow challenges our abilities and causes us to focus and maybe fear. The driving in the storm causes the beauty of the new snow to become an obstacle to be overcome, fraught with danger and risk.
Alternately, if you choose to allow the fresh blanket to fall and watch and accept what is happening, the snow creates a new, clean, beautiful serene environment. Peace invades when we surrender to the event.
In the midst of yesterday’s snow, my son and I decided to venture out and pick his friend up so that he could come and spend time at our place. As we drove we began to see more and more cars in the ditch. Traffic on the Interstate was snarled and backed up. The roads were covered in snow causing me to comment to Benton that “I am usually pretty good at discernment and we should not be out in this storm!” God hears our cry when we are in the storm of our choosing.
Wow, I chose to leave the peace and tranquility of our home being blanketed with fresh and beautiful snow. I chose to enter the storm and assume the risk of the storm. I chose because I wanted to please my son. I chose because I believed in my abilities, rejecting that those abilities might not be enough to overcome the elements around me. I chose to do it on my own.
We made it! We picked up the friend and made it safely back to our property, only to be rejected by the hill that leads to our house. We made it to within 400 feet and had to abandon the car and walk the final distance. We made it to within sight of our destination, only to then fail. Yet, God delivered us.
I don’t know why God made this event to cause me to recognize the parallels to life that this fresh blanket of snow morphing into a storm because of my choices reflected. I chose to leave the beauty of this gift because I wanted more. I wanted to please my son who was already pleased. I chose to leave and put my son and me at risk. I chose to pursue a want when all I needed was already in the safety, warmth and joy of our home.
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4 ESV
So as I write this morning, our home is full with our three kids and four of their friends. The one we chose to go and bring back with us. One who was here. And two neighbor kids. Each of these kids adding to the group and the joy of the event.
The friend that we chose to risk the ride to bring back makes us all laugh. The risk was worth the reward because he is a young man of God who sharpens our son. He brings laughter into our home. He brings joy. He reflects optimism and exudes thankfulness in every situation. His presence was worth the risk. God knew.
As we ate fried chicken, mac n cheese, green beans, fruit and homemade cookies yesterday evening, my heart was full. What could be better? The risk of the trip was rewarded by our loving Father with our home filled with amazing young people reflecting joy in the moment and optimism for the future.
So the recognition for me in yesterday’s events was of God’s love in the fresh, clean blanket of snow and how he made my life new. That I choose to pursue things that put the peace and joy of my relationship with him at risk for too many times, selfish purposes. That the beauty of my new heart and life becomes tarnished and scared when my choices create risk in my relationship with him. That even when I choose in the moment what is counterintuitive to relationship with him, he loves and watches over me. That he delights to deliver the desires of my heart. That he loves me more than I can fathom. That his Grace and Mercy knows no bounds. That he abides in me and allows me to abide in him.
And that my friend, is so much more than enough.
“Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior’s hands. How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them! He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.” Psalm 127:3-5 NLT
You’ve got this. Stay warm.
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Getting Pickled
Years ago when I was a boy, my parents would always plant a garden in our backyard. Partly for the joy and satisfaction of planting and watching things grow and partly out of need to provide because of our family’s limited finances. Whatever the reason, I loved to help plant, care for and harvest what came out of those gardens each year.
“Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 NLT
Yesterday, Sunday, January 14, 2024, our Pastor used a story and illustration of a pickle that reminded me of making pickles with my mother.
One particular year when I was probably 10 or 11, our little garden produced an overly bountiful crop of cucumbers. Our family loved those small, crisp cucumbers. Each year anticipating picking, peeling, slicing and then adding just a little salt to that delicious fruit. This particular year, the amount of cucumbers we harvested was so large that we could not eat them all and could not give them all away, leaving us wondering what to do with this bounty. Let’s make pickles!
“Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:37-38 ESV
So I recall my mother and I spending an entire summer day, picking, washing, peeling, slicing, preparing those cucumbers. We then prepped the jars with vinegar, herbs and spices that would “pickle” the cucumbers, giving them a delightful taste in the coming months.
Mom and I must have peeled 1000 cucumbers that day, or at least it seemed to a young boy. We “put up” (my Southern and country friends know this term) dozens of jars of cucumbers, now defined as ‘pickles.’ We proudly displayed our day’s hard work to present to our family and especially my dad when he arrived home from work.
I’ll never forget when dad came home from work. He praised our hard work. Then looked at the jars. Picking them up and holding them up to the light. Carefully examining the results of our hard work. After a few minutes he said, where are the skins? What? Skins?
In that moment we learned that we had prepared the cucumbers wrong. The hardest and longest part of our process, the peeling, was wrong. We had removed what held the cucumber and ultimately, the pickle together. We had removed the protective skin that God surrounded the meat of this fruit, giving it a firm foundation that held it together through the transformative, pickling process.
As you likely have surmised by now, the cucumbers assigned the name “pickles” by my mother and me, became mush in the jars. Being denied the foundation of their tough, outer skin they became vulnerable to the harsh treatment of the vinegar and eventually succumbed to the continual pressing in of the chemicals designed to work in concert with the whole cucumber. Their armor of skin had been removed, leaving them defenseless and ultimately discarded.
I want to encourage you today to wrap yourself in the protective arms of Jesus. To recognize that your tough, life-worn, experience hardened body is a gift from God, preparing and protecting you. The scars of risk and experience have formed an outer layer of ability to withstand what the enemy, Satan plans to throw at you. Your battle hardened outer skin protects the beautiful, giving, loving, caring, life-sharing inner person that God has created for hope and purpose to others. Accept and trust the process that God has and is taking you through.
“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers.” Luke 6:43-44 NIV
So today I invite you to laugh with me as I reminisce about that long day of cucumber peeling. I invite you to accept who and whose you are in Christ Jesus. I invite you to change the trajectory of your thinking from victim to victor. I invite you to accept that you are so perfectly and wonderfully made, that God created a single DNA for you. I invite you to allow yourself to be submersed in the life-altering solution that is Jesus Christ, resulting in a new and transformed you. A person pickled, preserved and prepared for the new life that God has for you.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:10-13 NIV
You’ve got this.
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Be Willing to be Naive
“‘The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” Matthew 25:40 NIV
I recall when our kids were young we would pull up to stop signs or lights and oftentimes there would be someone asking for help. These signs would say things like “Homeless Veteran,” “Homeless and Hungry” and on and on.
Invariably our kids would say “are we going to help them?” “Daddy, we need to give them some money!” With emphasis!!! “Daddy, should we invite them home so they can eat, shower, sleep?” Oh my heart aches as I write this because I missed so many priceless moments of example.
Every now and then (but not often enough) we would give them a few dollars. The absolute joy and faces shining with an understanding that transcended age that shown on our kids faces warms my heart now and reflects in my inner self as I examine my heart.
“and said, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless you repent [that is, change your inner self—your old way of thinking, live changed lives] and become like children [trusting, humble, and forgiving], you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3 AMP
My daughter asked me one day when I ‘educated her’ that “many times these people are not being honest and taking advantage of good people,” she asked: “How do you know?” A dagger in my heart. How did I know? What right did I have to assign the discernment only available to the God that I claimed? How did I know? I didn’t!
What a blessing our kids are to us. They teach us so many things. They reveal so many things to us. They exemplify the innocence that God commands of us in the form of righteousness. They fill our lives with laughter and our hearts with consciousness to be better. To grow. To live the words we say. To exemplify Christ in the way we treat one another in our family and how we treat all those that God places in our path.
“See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.” 1 John 3:1-3 NLT
Our kids cause me to seek a deeper relationship with my Father in Heaven. I realize how much more their hearts are developed than mine. I see in them and their mom a genuine desire to love. A genuine desire to help. To encourage. To care for and include. They welcome others without pretense or without guarding against ‘being taken advantage of.’ How blessed am I that I should be called a child of God!
Today consider being vulnerable. Consider that what you have been entrusted with is for so much more. Consider willingly being taken advantage of. Consider the eyes that are watching you and the ears that are listening. What value can you assign to leading someone to relationship with Christ through random and naive acts of kindness.
The leaders of the day felt Jesus taught a naive concept of relationship with God when he taught love, kindness, help, all are brothers and sisters. Jesus removed the shackles of legalism and replaced them with the hope, joy, assurance and eternal relationship that exists when we accept him as our Lord and Savior.
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40
Live a naive life of love that causes eternal impact. That is the priceless purpose of God’s children.
You’ve got this.
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Lead well. Love better.
“We sing
God is so good
God is so good
Oh, God is so good
He’s so good to meGod is so good
He’s so good to me
God, You’re so good
You’re so good to me”Last night a group of Fight Club Men and I were invited and privileged to go into the home of fellow Believers and share our stories of hope with their micro-church. It was a beautiful time of sharing. Sharing food. Sharing laughter. Sharing tears. Sharing that special thing that happens when sisters and brothers of the King come together. Family is expanded. Love is shared. Hope invades. Joy, joy, joy arrives as the hearts are recognized. What a blessing. God truly is so good.
I was reminded of Acts Chapter 2 and the new church, God’s Church and how they must have rejoiced together after centuries of darkness. Legalism. Enslavement. Intercession with God only through the priests in the Temple and through animal sacrifice. Then suddenly this son of God, this God in human form, this God of hope and love arrived. Jesus arrived and removed the chains of a broken humanity. He taught this new church, his Church the value of the person. The value of love. The value of humility and service. He taught what that beautiful group showered us with yesterday evening. Love first.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common.” Acts 2:42-44
The Father spoke to me during this special time with the words: “Lead well. Love better.”
So my prayer for you today is that God would bless you as he blessed me and the Fight Club Men guys last night. That you would open you heart, your home and your life to fellowship and to all that God has for you. My prayer is that you would lead well and love better. Love larger. Love with risks and with the promise of reward.
There has never been a time of greater opportunity for the Church to impact the World. Our leadership is needed. Our love is required.
Peace be with you my sister and brothers. Know that you are loved. Jesus rubs the scars of loved in his hands and says “Father, I would do it all again. I love them that much.”
You’ve got this.
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Myron Speaks 