In step

[RiverOL]

The Positive Side of Negative Experiences

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."1

As a young man Demosthenes, the famous Greek orator, had a speech impediment that made him feel shy and insecure. His father left him a wealthy estate, but according to Greek law at the time, to claim his estate he had to establish his right of ownership through public debate. Because of his inability to speak clearly and prove his ownership he lost his inheritance.

Motivated by his loss and through dogged determination Demosthenes overcame his speech impediment to become one of the great orators of ancient times. Nobody remembers who got his inheritance but the story of Demosthenes has been told to countless numbers for centuries.

Back in college days I recall one of my professors saying that it takes twenty years to make a preacher and that the most effective ministers are those whose lives are tempered by suffering. "Nonsense," I said to myself at the time. I was wrong.

Pain, disappointment, sorrow, suffering, and sadness, and not success, are what can make a person more understanding, gentle, kind, understanding, accepting, loving, and real—if we allow this to happen and not become bitter.

The prophet Ezekiel understood the suffering of the Israelites in exile because he sat where they sat for seven days—and was overwhelmed.2 It's only when we sit where others sit that we can fully understand their suffering, without which we will be limited in our effectiveness as witnesses for Christ and as communicators of the gospel.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me not to avoid my pain but to face it, embrace it, own it, and bring it to you for your healing touch and use it to make me more sensitive to the suffering of others and minister to them in their pain. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV).
2. Ezekiel 3:15.

 

[RiverOL]

God Speaks . . . to You

I am the good shepherd . . . My sheep hear My voice—John 10:11, 27

God’s had direct, personal, reciprocally communicative relationships with a lot of men . . . Abraham, Moses, Gideon, David, Paul. What about you and me, though? Many of us men—to the extent we think about it at all—assume those guys were special, different from us. And so, we decide God probably wants with us a different type of relationship—more indirect, impersonal, and non-reciprocal—go to church, read the Bible a bit, get on with our lives. That would mean, though, that God’s purpose in bringing us stories of these men was to simply demonstrate something unattainable—a divine taunt, of sorts. It would reveal a desire to impress upon us how special were his Biblical supermen, so we'd gaze upon them and wonder why he created us so . . . un-super. Should we believe that? Or, could he have, through these stories, been showing us his heart, his father’s heart? Could it be that he wanted direct, personal, reciprocal relationships with Abraham, Moses, and an incalculable number of men since, and that he wants that kind of relationship with you and me too, right now? “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8) Sure sounds direct . . . personal . . . reciprocal.

Begin to open your mind, brother. God wants to speak to you—directly to you. In Scripture, he spoke with his own audible voice; through dreams and visions; through intermediaries, such as angels and other human beings; and directly into thoughts, using his “still, small voice.” While the others are admittedly rare, using people as his intermediaries and using his still, small voice are actually quite common.

 

[RiverOL]

When Temptation Knocks on the Door

"Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am tempted by God'; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death."1

We live in and are all a part of this world that has been broken by sin. Consequently, having a sin nature from birth, nobody escapes temptation. It always starts in the mind, and can be triggered by something we see on TV, hear on the radio, listening to a degrading pop song, seeing a photo, by an unmet need, by idle thinking, or any one of numerous possibilities. Because of our sinful nature, temptation is always lurking around the corner and ready to knock on the door of our mind.

However, as today's Scripture reminds us, "each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed." Once we are enticed, we have already taken the bait, and then we start thinking about what we want or would like to do. The more we think about it, the stronger the temptation grows, and if we don't "nip it in the bud" right away, we are setting ourselves up for a fall.

However, realize that God's Word also points out that there is always a way of escape. "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 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."2

So what's the way of escape? As temptation starts in the mind that's where the battle rages, and that's where it is won or lost. Speaking personally, the greatest help I have found when temptation is knocking on the door of my mind, is to say and pray over and over in my mind the following: "Jesus Christ is Lord. Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God. Jesus Christ is the Messiah who died to pay the penalty for all my sins. Jesus Christ is my Lord, my God, and My Savior." Satan, the author of all temptation, absolutely hates these proclamations and in no time will leave tempting us as long as we keep repeating these words. He will, however, keep returning in his attempt to cause us to fall, but as long as we keep concentrating on and repeating these eternal truths, the temptation will be dissipated and, thanks to God, we will remain victorious.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank You for making a way of escape for when I am tempted. Please give me the desire to never give in to temptation remembering that You have provided a way of escape. Help me always to focus my thoughts on the fact that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that He is Lord of my life, until the temptation is dissipated and has left me. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus's name, amen."

1. James 1:13-15 (NKJV).
2. 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 (NIV).

 

[RiverOL]

Mr. Eternity

"Therefore He [Jesus] is able also to save to the uttermost (completely, perfectly, finally, and for all time and eternity) those who come to God through Him."1

Perhaps you have heard of Arthur Malcolm Stace, who became affectionately known as Mr. Eternity and lived in Australia. Early in life he was an alcoholic derelict who, before reaching middle age, was converted through a rescue mission and later himself became a street-corner preacher.

Shortly after becoming a Christian, he heard a sermon entitled "Echoes of Eternity." He was so captivated by the importance of the word "eternity" that he began using his free time to spread the one-word message across Sydney. "Eternity went ringing through my brain. Even though I could scarcely write my own name, I felt the divine urge to write this word."

Fifty times a day for over thirty years, Arthur Stace wrote Eternity on the sidewalks of Sydney, usually in the early morning, with white chalk and with faultless script. When he passed away, the Sydney morning newspaper carried a story of this unusual man who had chalked Eternity on the city streets over half a million times in that metropolis of significant population. The thought of eternity impresses upon us the seriousness with which we must regard our soul.2

Multiplied thousands of Aussies saw this message on Sydney sidewalks. Plus on the eve of the new millennium celebrations more than a million people, gathered around the Sydney Harbor Bridge, saw it emblazoned in neon lights across the bridge. It was also beamed around the world to more than two billion TV viewers and shown again at the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games later in the year.

Eternity. It is a powerful word with eternal consequences. In his own simple but profound way, Arthur Stace was posing the question, "Where will you spend eternity?"

Eternity! Where will you spend it?

If you should die tonight are you 100% absolutely certain you would spend eternity in heaven with God? If not, be sure to read the article: "How to Be Sure You're a real Christian Without Having to Be Religious" at: http://tinyurI.com/8glq9.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank You that You have provided the way through the sacrifice of your Son, Jesus, so that all who believe in and accept Him as their Savior have Your promise and guarantee of spending eternity with You in heaven forever. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus's name, amen."

 

[RiverOL]

Who Are You Working For?

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might."1

No matter whose employ we are in every one of us is working for him or herself. We delude ourselves if we think otherwise.

I have read that when former astronaut Frank Borman became head of Eastern Airlines, he was determined to make the service of his company the best in the industry. On one occasion he noticed an employee sitting with his feet perched on a desk ignoring the telephone which was ringing relentlessly.

"Aren't you going to answer the phone," Borman asked. "This isn't my department," the employee answered without any hint of concern. "I work in maintenance."

"Not anymore you don't," Borman barked.

It's the person who is faithful in the little things who gets entrusted with bigger and better responsibilities.

That is true in both man's economy and God's. As Christians in the hereafter we won't be judged for our sins as Christ took that judgment on himself at Calvary. But we will be rewarded according to our faithfulness in serving the Lord here on earth.

It pays to be faithful and dependable in all our responsibilities. As another has said, "The greatest ability is dependability." Of equal importance is response-ability!

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, help me today and always to be ever ready to serve and glorify You in everything I am and do. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus's name, amen."

1. King Solomon, in Ecclesiastes 9:10, (NIV).

 

[RiverOL]

Heard His Still, Small Voice?

And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it”—Isaiah 30:21

Still, small voice—the words come from the First Book of Kings. The Prophet Elijah emerged from a cave on the mountain called Horeb: “ . . a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire . . .” (1 Kings 19:11-12). After the fire, Elijah heard a “still, small voice.” God’s voice. God taught Elijah something that day. He taught us. He demonstrated, in dramatic manner, a preferred method of communication. So, what is the “still, small voice”? Well, it’s more about our thoughts than about an audible voice. So, thoughts . . . they can be crystallized in many ways: in words—sort of an inner voice—or perhaps as pictures, feelings, or impulses. Originating them in the mind of another is neither complicated, nor difficult. We do it every day. Engaging in conversation with someone, we direct their thinking and they ours. There are limits, of course. We need some combination of physical media—ink on paper, pixels on screens, ones and zeros flowing over wires, vibrations of vocal cords, waves of electromagnetic radiation. Does God need physical media to originate thoughts in our minds? No, of course not. If we follow the King, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit is there already—he dwells within us (Romans 8:9-11).

Could’ve God already been at work in your mind, originating thoughts? I’ll bet. Could it be that you didn’t notice, didn’t recognize it? Begin today, brother, to sift. Begin to note which thoughts are likely yours alone, which were clearly originated by others . . . and which just might’ve been originated by God.

 

[RiverOL]

Is Your Life Wonder-full or Wonder-empty?

"Then he [Jesus] said to them, 'Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.'"1

In some way emotions are "energy in motion." When used creatively they can motivate us to achieve wonderful things in life. When repressed they can leave us characteristically bored with life, feeling empty within, and settling for cheap counterfeits.

For instance, when the emotion of love is repressed, more often than not it will express itself in lust and lead to superficial relationships. When anger is repressed it can come out as hostility, rage or passive aggression. When fear is repressed it can cause us to setting ourselves up to fail, or express itself in phobias. Instead of facing the real fear within, we attach it to something outside ourselves—it feels a whole lot safer to do it this way.

Or take the emotion of wonder. It's the emotion that puts sparkle into life and makes life wonder-full. When wonder is repressed, our life is wonder-empty. It then expresses itself in a "lust" for things; that is, materialism. Instead of loving people and using things we end up unhappily loving things and using people to get more things.

I believe one of the major reasons why we in the Western World are so materialistic and "worship the god of materialism" is because so many of us are emotionally repressed and our lives wonder-empty.

A vital part of a truly wonderful life consists of being in touch with and aware of our entire range of God-given emotions; that, in turn, express themselves in wholesome, loving relationships with our own self, others, and ultimately with God.

Jesus said it well when he said, "A man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." And as Henry Van Dyke said, "What you possess in the world will be found at the day of your death to belong to someone else. But what you are will be yours forever."

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to get in touch with and be aware of all my God-given emotions and use them as You intended, so that my life will be truly wonder-full and so I will not be caught up in the emptiness of materialism—and so that my life will be a clear channel through whom Your love can freely flow to others. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus's name, amen."

1. Luke 12:15 (NIV).

 

[RiverOL]

Don't Let Your Past Dictate Your Future

"And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord."1

It is true that our lives are significantly shaped during our early formative years and many of our character issues formed then are with us for the rest of our lives.

What if we grew up in a home that was less than wholesome or where we may have been emotionally abused if not physically abused? It's interesting to note that where I live physical and sexual abuse of a child is justifiably considered a crime and is punishable by law with the likelihood of being sentenced to time in jail. Furthermore, if the abuse is by a parent, the child is often removed from his or her custody. Tragically, emotional abuse is not even considered a crime and, depending on the intensity, can be just as psychologically damaging as physical or sexual abuse.

As an adult, overcoming the effects of childhood abuse and love deprivation is possible but it can be very challenging. Speaking personally, I grew up in a very dysfunctional family and because I felt unloved and rejected, especially by my father, for many years I felt extremely insecure and felt that I was ugly and unlovable. True, I was not responsible for my upbringing, but as an adult I realized that I was responsible for overcoming my less than wholesome background.

Besides having a lot of therapy, one of many significant things I did to resolve the effects of my impaired relationship with my father was to go to his gravesite and in my imagination I "talked to him" as if he were there with me. I said, "Dad, if you were still alive today, what advice would you have for me?" The answer that came to my mind was, "Don't let your past control your future."

Good advice. True, I may have been a victim in the past but if I chose to remain a victim I would have become a willing volunteer.

For healthy living and loving relationships it is imperative that we resolve all our past impaired relationships and forgive all who have ever hurt us. We don't have to remain a victim but with God's help, and that of others where necessary, we can overcome a hurtful past and become all that God envisioned for us to be. The choice is ours. So, whatever you do don't let your past control your future.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank You for all the good that I received from my parents and my past. Also, help me to acknowledge where I may have been abused or hurt in any way physically, emotionally or spiritually and lead me to the help I need to overcome the effects caused by these destructive experiences. In so doing may I be freed to become all that You planned for me to be. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus's name, amen."

1. Ephesians 6:4 (NKJV).

 

[RiverOL]

Heard God Through Others?

The Spirit of the Lord speaks by me; his word is on my tongue—2 Samuel 23:2

God speaks through his people. He empowers us as agents to carry his messages—as Ananias did to Saul, as Cornelius did to Peter (and Peter did back to Cornelius). This method, human agency, is the second of God’s two preferred methods of communicating with us. Examples of it abound in Scripture. And, of course, Scripture itself is an example: the Biblical authors were his agents in communicating his precious words to us. How does it work? Well, while God uses his still, small voice to reach us directly, speaking into our minds, originating thoughts there instantly, he uses that very same voice to also reach us indirectly—that is, by speaking directly into the minds of others, directing a few of their thoughts, and then allowing them to use their spoken or written words to take his messages the rest of the way, to us. It may be that one of us, one in need of hearing from God, isn’t used to hearing from him, or doesn’t recognize his voice or just isn’t listening . . . or maybe doesn’t want to listen. Whatever the reason, it’s clear that God uses people who are listening and do want to hear to reach others who need to hear. It could be the inspired words of a pastor in the pulpit or the encouraging words of a friend at a coffee shop or the challenging words of brothers in a men’s group . . . or any one of many, many other possibilities.

Do you want to hear God’s voice? Does your busy calendar allow for it? Have you committed yourself to a group of men who are willing to speak his truth into your life? Think about these questions, brother—and commit today to figuring out how to begin to answer them affirmatively.

 

[RiverOL]

Lord, Make Me an Instrument

"Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."1

One of my favorite prayers set to music is the beautiful prayer of St. Francis of Assisi who lived in the 13th century. What a difference we would make in today's world if every Christian prayed this prayer from the heart regularly:

"Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

"O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal
life.

"Thank You, God, for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus's name, amen."

1. Matthew 5:15-16 (NIV).

 

[RiverOL]

How Does Your Garden Grow?

"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."1

I read about one atheist who objected strongly to teaching religion in public schools. His argument was that children should be allowed to reach maturity then decide for themselves what they choose to believe.

Coleridge the poet, who heard the atheist invited him to join him in his garden which happened to be overgrown with weeds.

"What do you see?" asked Coleridge.

"It's nothing but a patch of weeds," replied the atheist.

"Yes," said Coleridge, "I decided to let the garden decide for itself what it should grow."

To leave a child without guidance would be a disaster and if we don't want to influence his thinking, why send him to school?

To train him in the way he should go involves training in every area of life—physically, intellectually, socially, emotionally, and spiritually—so that he becomes well balanced in every area of life and a mature, healthy, interdependent adult.

This takes a lot of wisdom, guidance, and instruction. It doesn't take care of itself. And what is the first and most effective teaching method? Modeling by example what we want our children to learn.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, help me to model for my family the kind of person you want me to be so that they, seeing what you have done in my life, will want the same for themselves. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Proverbs 22:6 (NIV).

 

[RiverOL]

How the Heck Do We Know?

. . . show me a sign that it is you who speak with me—Judges 6:17

“That was God . . .” “I felt God nudging me . . .” “I got the sense that God wants me to . . .” We hear words like these. Sometimes we say them ourselves. But, how do we know it’s God? Well, rarely can we ever know conclusively; there’s mystery with God. There are times when we intuitively just know, down deep somewhere. And, often, this “just knowing” is enough. Other times, though, things are less clear and we must ask: Was that you, God? Or was that just me? In those situations, we need to be able to recognize his voice—to identify it. Fortunately, his voice is unique—whether it comes through his still, small voice or through the words of others. It’s something we can come to recognize. So, what we need to learn is to identify the unique characteristics. We do that by reading Scripture. Fortunately, not all methods of hearing God are equal. Scripture, the method by which we hear his voice indirectly through the Biblical authors, sits above all others in importance and authority. As such, we have something against which we can run tests. On a practical level, therefore, when we try to hear God by any other method, we simply need ask ourselves whether what we think we’ve heard fits within the principles set forth in Scripture. Indeed, that’s exactly what we are listening for when we listen for his voice—thoughts and words that fit within the principles of the Bible—not thoughts, nor words, by contrast, that contradict or add to Scripture.

Are you spending enough time reading Scripture, brother? Do you have a reading plan? If not, get one going, today. Do it with friends. For if you come to know him in Scripture, you’ll begin to identify God’s voice in other places too.

 

[RiverOL]

Reality Check

"Faith without works is dead."1

One of my favorite quotes happens to be from a Buddhist monk who said, "To know and not to do is not yet to know." To translate this into our Christian terminology it could be, "To believe and not to act is not yet to believe because I only truly believe that which motivates me to action."

It has also been pointed out that we don't always act consistently with what we profess but we always act consistently with what we believe. In other words, I may profess to be a Christian but if I don't act like one, chances are I may not be one.

Furthermore, if I say I believe that Jesus Christ is coming again and unless people receive him as their Savior, they will be lost forever—but don't do anything to share the gospel—chances are I don't really believe that people are lost and that Christ is coming back again. I only profess it.

As James put it, "What's the use of saying that you have faith and are Christians if you aren't proving it by helping others? Will that kind of faith save anyone? It isn't enough just to have faith. You must also do good to prove that you have it. Faith that doesn't show itself by good works is no faith at all—it is dead and useless."2 And as James also said, "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins."3

Good works don't save us. They just confirm what we are and what we believe. Jesus said the same thing. "By their fruits you will know them," he declared.4 In other words, to know and not to do is not yet to know—or to believe and not to act is not yet to believe.

Have you had a reality check lately to see what you really do believe? You measure it by your actions and the way you live.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, help me to be a doer of Your Word and not just a hearer and grant that my belief in You will be for real—and be evident in what I do and in the way I live. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus's name, amen."

1. James 2:20.
2. James 2:14, 17 (TLB).
3. James 4:17 (NIV).
4. Matthew 7:20.

 

[RiverOL]

Pardoned

"But God demonstrates his love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."1

The story is told about a young man who received a ticket for a speeding violation. As he stood before the judge, the judge found himself in a dilemma because he knew the young man didn't have any money to pay the fine and he didn't want to send him to jail.

However, the judge had to fine the young man $150, which was the accepted amount for this traffic violation. Immediately the judge handed down the sentence, he stepped away from the bench, took off his robes, went to the defendant and paid the fine for him.

The young man was his own son whom he loved.

That's what God's Son, Jesus Christ, did for us on the cross of Calvary. God's justice required death as the automatic judgment upon our sin. However, because he loved us, the Son of God laid aside his "judge's robes," stepped out of the "ivory palaces" of heaven, came to earth and identified with us as a man, and died on the cross in our place to save us from our sins.

Because of this, God offers each of us a free pardon with forgiveness for all our sins and gives us his gift of eternal life. Jesus, the Son of God, paid the "fine/penalty" for us with his life. All we need to do is confess our sinfulness and accept his gift of salvation—the greatest gift known to man.

"He paid a debt he didn't owe to free us from a price we couldn't pay."

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank You for Your great love gift for me in giving your Son, Jesus, to die in my place to pay the just penalty for all my sins. May I never take Your love for granted but learn to love You with all my heart, soul, mind and strength—and my neighbor as myself. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus's name, amen."

NOTE: If you have never accepted God's free pardon for all your sins, click on http://tinyurI.com/8glq9 to see how simple it is to do this.

1. Paul in Romans 5:8.

 

[RiverOL]

Have You Missed It?

. . . he rewards those who seek him—Hebrews 11:6

If God chose to speak to us using methods unmistakable, undeniable—a clearly audible voice or a conversation with an angel, perhaps—identifying his voice would be simple. Such encounters would be impossible to ignore, even for the distracted or dissenting among us. He employs methods like these, however, only but very rarely. Much more often, he uses methods any of us can mistake, or even deny—methods like his still, small voice and human agency. Identifying his voice when it comes through these latter methods is—by intentional design—more difficult. Note the story of Elijah on Mount Horeb, when God uses his still, small voice (1 Kings 19:9-18). He makes it clear the nature of this voice is not dramatic, nor the volume loud; it’s a gentle whisper. Unobtrusive. It’s not forced upon Elijah, nor upon us. The same is true of human agency. When he speaks through family, friends, acquaintances, his voice is likewise easy to mistake, easy to deny. Such people talk with us every day and the few words that are inspired can get lost among the many that are not. Again, unobtrusive. But, though unobtrusive, Elijah still heard God’s voice. And so can we. We can hear it—but we must listen determinedly. Otherwise it’ll fade into noise. Why? Why does God allow us to find him when we seek him earnestly and hide himself from us when we do not? To do differently would be coercion, or close to it. And that’s not how he works.

Get rid of distraction. Drop the skepticism. Drop the defiance, brother. He wants a two-way relationship with you, one in which you speak and are spoken to . . . by God Almighty. That’s an astounding offer. All he wants is for you to choose him, freely. Choose him.

 

[RiverOL]

The Weakness of the "Strong"

"Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock."1

It happens in clubs, churches, at work, on committees, and pretty much wherever people are involved in any kind of work or planning group. Often there is at least one so-called strong person who has a need to be in control—and "lord it" over the others.

The fact is that some of the people we call strong; that is, domineering and controlling people, are anything but strong. They are control freaks because they are immature and insecure. The only way they feel secure is when they are in control. They are difficult to work with, to plan with, and even more so to live with.

Jesus gives us the perfect example on how to live and lead. He always spoke with authority but was never authoritarian or controlling. He had true strength, which never has a need to control or lord it over others.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please deliver me from the sin of controlling and seeking to 'lord it over others.' If I should ever do this, help me to see that this is not a sign of strength but a symptom of weakness and insecurity, and then get the help I need to overcome my problem. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus's name, amen."

1. 1 Peter 5:2-3 (NIV).

 

[RiverOL]

Great Fiddling

"Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."1

I have read how Leonard Bernstein, former conductor of the New York Philharmonic orchestra, was once asked which instrument was the most difficult to play. Without hesitation Bernstein replied, "The second fiddle. I can get plenty of first violinists, but to find someone who can play the second fiddle with enthusiasm—that's a problem. And if we have no second fiddle, we have no harmony."

I recall hearing a beautiful soloist in a church service. The problem was that she sang off key. Had she just given her testimony, we would have been blessed.

Everybody is gifted in one or more areas. When we use these gifts as God intended with the right motive, there is harmony within ourselves and in the group we are ministering to. However, if we try to do what others are gifted for and we are not, if we serve with wrong motives, or if we have a need to control, there will be disharmony within ourselves and in the group.

God's reward will have nothing to do with whether we are a first, second or a non-fiddler. They will be according to our faithfulness in using the gifts that we have been given. When we come to the end of life's journey, we will be required to give an account to God of the stewardship of the gifts he has given to us—not of the ones we haven't been given.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to recognize my God-given gifts, develop and use them to the best of my ability for Your glory and the blessing of others. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus's name, amen."

1. 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV).

 

[RiverOL]

Healing the Whole Person

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed."1

Medical science, numerous self-help and recovery programs, and personal experience indicate that emotional, as well as spiritual growth is an essential and often lacking ingredient of physical health, inner peace, and meaningful relationships.

Jesus said, "Do you want to be made well/whole?"2 His purpose was not only to save us from our sins and give us the gift of eternal life, but also to bring us healing and wholeness—not only spiritually, but also physically, emotionally and relationally.

Sadly, many of us, even those of us who are committed to the Christian faith, still have some physical ills that could be healed. Many carry around unresolved feelings of anxiety, fear, anger, depression, guilt and shame. Some struggle with addictions, and many have never found the loving relationships the human heart craves. These are the issues/stresses that either cause or greatly aggravate many of our physical ills and relational conflicts.

As God's Word points out, in order to be healed of some, if not many, diseases we need to confess our sins—this includes our sins of the spirit such as unresolved anger, resentment, grudges, unforgiveness, bitterness, grief, guilt, fears, lack of trust in God, and so on.

Speaking personally, when I resolved a lot of buried grief by getting in touch with it and sobbing it out, I was healed of hay-fever that plagued me for years. And when I got in touch with a lot of buried anger from childhood days, expressed it creatively, and got it off my chest, I was healed of painful bursitis in both of my shoulders. When we bury our emotions, where do they go? We never bury them dead but very much alive and, what we fail to talk or weep out creatively, we will inevitably act out in one way or another destructively.

I'm not implying that if we confess all our sins that we will be cured of all ills such as being bitten by a malaria mosquito, eating bad food, or of problems that come from aging. However, if we put into practice and live by the principles found in God's Word, many of us would be a whole lot healthier, happier and more fulfilled than we presently are.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank You for the guidelines that are found in your Word that, if adhered to diligently, will greatly improve my physical, mental and emotional health and lead to a more fulfilled life and loving relationships. Please help me to so live. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus's name, amen."

1. James 5:16 (NIV).
2. John 5:6 (NKJV).

 

[RiverOL]

When God Feels Far Away

"God … is not far from each one of us."1

"I attend church regularly," one person said to me, "but I don't necessarily believe in God. He seems so distant."

The difficulty for many of us, even when we believe in God, is feeling close to him and experiencing his presence and love. When we can't, as Cecil Osborne points out, it is our receptivity that is at fault. God is constantly broadcasting his love, power and blessings to all of us but when can't feel these, it's the barriers in our life that block God's love getting through.

The barriers can be unresolved negative emotions such as anger, resentment, hurt, grief, fear, feelings of inadequacy, guilt and so on. Another barrier can be caused by any impaired relationship with a loved one or friend, by unconfessed sin, living out of harmony with God's will, or by not making the effort to daily spend time with God in prayer and listening to his Word. When we starve our souls, it feels as if God is far away.

Another reason God can seem far away is because of a lack of sufficient human love, connection, and meaningful fellowship with fellow Christians. We were created for relationships—with God and people. Both are essential for emotional, physical and spiritual well-being. As John, the beloved disciple of Jesus put it, "If we love one another, God's love is perfected or made complete in us."2

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, whenever I feel that You are distant, help me to realize that I'm the one who has moved, not You. Help me to see any barrier/s in me and lead me to the help I need to resolve these. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus's name, amen."

1. Paul the Apostle (Acts 17:27, NIV).
2. 1 John 4:12.

 

[RiverOL]

Want to Get Stronger?

They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers—Acts 2:42

Want to get stronger? Want to be tougher? Get connected. When we face trials and challenges, those to whom we’re connected can support us—help us find courage we’d not find on our own. When we experience pain and loss, they can comfort us—help us back from places we’d not return from, on our own. When we’re hit by fear and anxiety, they can give us perspective—help us see things in ways we’d not see on our own. When we need truth, they can teach us—help us discover and understand what we we’d not grasp on our own. When we get stuck, they can call us out, speak truth, push us forward—help us stop (or start) what we’d be unable to, on our own. When we face complicated questions, they can listen and counsel us—help us process through problems that are too difficult on our own. When we mess up, make mistakes, they can correct us and have mercy—help remind us we’re loved, despite flaws and failures, something that’s hard to remember on our own. The Apostle Paul urged connectedness (Romans 12:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Hebrews 3:13). The early Church demonstrated it—spending time together, knowing one another, eating, learning, and praying together. Why? Alone, we men are vulnerable; together, we’re stronger and more resilient toward the ups-and-downs of life (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). Connectedness ruggedizes us, restores us, fuels us for what’s ahead. And, brother, there’s important stuff ahead.

Go look at your weekly calendar. What are the major groupings, in terms of commitments and people? Work/Colleagues? Home/Family? Social/Friends? Others? Okay, now you need at least a couple people from each category who (1) know you, (2) understand the context too, and (3) who’ll make connectedness with you a priority.