Wonderful Birthday!

Yesterday was my 57th birthday and I had a wonderful day!  Jon and Michelle took Mary Lou and me out to Cheeseburger in Paradise for supper, and then we went home for cake and ice cream.  It was a fun time being together.  Jon and I also threw some baseball in the backyard and watched the Yankees beat the Red Sox on TV.  I also received calls and birthday cards in the mail which were such a blessing.  I am so grateful to be surrounded by such a loving, caring family….and so many wonderful friends.  I also thankful for my Savior, Jesus Christ, who continues to show His magnificient grace in my life.  I am so blessed!

“You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit; and that your fruit should remain.”       John 15:16

A Hand On the Back

I heard a gentleman the other day recounting his experiences on a recent bike trip.  He was sharing how the entire trip was going great until the last day.  On that last day the group had this huge hill to climb and he didn’t think that he could make it.  Unknown to him, one of the strongest riders in the group came up behind him, and said, “Relax, I’ll take over from here.”  With that he put his hand on this fellow’s back and bicycled BOTH of them up the hill.  Amazing!

As I listened to the story I thought of Jesus.  So many times in my life He has come to me and put His hand on my back and helped me up the steep inclines of life.  There are many situations I do not know how I would have made it through if Jesus had not been there to strengthen me and give me courage.  I am so thankful for a Savior who walks with me through life and continually gives me grace.

If you are going through a tough time in life right now, or feel that you have been pedaling til you’re ready to drop…why not let Jesus put His hand on your back and help you make it up that steep climb!  He cares for you!   He wants to help you!  He wants to be your total sufficiency!

“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”     Philippians 4:13

The Finger of God

I was listening to a great tape the other evening and the speaker was talking about the convictions that the early Christ followers had which helped them conquer their world for Jesus Christ!  One of those convictions was this:  “They saw the finger of God in all of history and Jesus Christ as the central character.”  I was impressed with the phrase, “They saw the finger of God in all of history…”.  I have been challenged by that statement in the last two weeks since hearing it.  Do I recognize the finger of God at work in history TODAY?  Do I recognize the finger of God at work all around me every day?  Do I truly see God at work redemptively today, calling people to experience His grace in Jesus, His Son?

Recognizing the power and activity of God all around us can be a constant source of tremendous encouragement to our hearts.  There is so much “bad news” being broadcast today, that it’s invigorating to our spirit to be reminded of the ”Good News” of what God is doing around us!  We each need to cultivate a greater awareness and sensitivity to what God IS doing around us all the time.  Let’s not give in to the lies of the tempter who tells us:  ”God isn’t interested in your life”, or  “God doesn’t care about your needs”, or “God has bigger things to worry about than your problems”.  Friend, God is alive!  He does care!  He is perfect love!   He is faithful!  He wants the BEST for you!

Take time, today, to FOCUS on what God is doing around you…and in your life!

“For it is God who is at work in you, both to His good will and for His pleasure.”     Philippians 2:13 

Hot!!!

We have been going through an extremely difficult heat wave the last two weeks.  Yesterday the temperature was 97, today it was 99, and tomorrow they’re forcasting 101!  We’re being told to be careful when we go outside and drink lots of liquids.  During times like this we realize the importance and necessity of water.  I think of the words of the Psalmist in Psalm 1 when he talks about the man who meditates and delights in the Word of God daily…“he shall be like a tree planted by the waters…”.  That tree IS ABLE to withstand the searing heat and the dry conditions, because it has a WATER SOURCE that continually quenches and nourishes it!  The Psalmist says that it’s leaves remain green and it continues to bear fruit because of the nourishment that it receives because it’s roots are deep down near the source of water.

Where are your roots today?  Are you letting the roots of your life go deep down into Jesus Christ, who is living water?  Are you drawing upon His nourshishment every day?  This terrible heat streak reminds all of us how necessary it is for our lives to be “planted by streams of water.”  Friend, if your life is dry and stale, look to Jesus who will bring refreshment to your soul.  When the “heat” is on, and tough times come, He can KEEP you and SUSTAIN you by His grace!  Look to Him today!

“If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.  He who believes in Me out of his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.”   John 7:37-38

Need Is Met

I thank the Lord that another financial need was met today.  Walking by faith is quite a journey when you don’t know where your next provision will come from.  Sometimes I have felt like Elijah waiting “for the ravens” to come with another meal.  It is good that I can trust the Lord.  He is faithful…and I want to praise Him.

I start my new job at Target this week.  It will be quite a change from pastoring full-time, but hopefully this bi-vocational stint will be short in nature.  I do look forward to meeting many new people at my new job and trying to be light for Jesus there.  Pray for me that others will see Jesus living in me!  I just want to be a vessel in the Lord’s hand that He can use!

“He must increase, but I must decrease.”     John 3:30

Fine Tuning

Both of my sons are great guitar players.  They know how to play, and play well!  One thing that I have noticed is that every now and then they take a moment to tune their guitars.  They do this by turning small knobs located on the top end of the guitar.  The strings of the guitar are tied in to these knobs and by turning the knobs you are able to tighten the strings and bring out the perfect sound that you desire.  Every good musician knows how important it is to bring out the best sound possible in their performance.

I like to think of the Holy Spirit as the One who fine tunes our lives.  God has sent His Spirit into our lives so that He can adjust our lives to the will and purposes of God.  He knows when the strings of our lives need tightening, in order that God’s perfect melody can be played out of our lives.  We are able to grow in holiness as the Holy Spirit is constantly at work in our lives adjusting our will to God’s will; giving us the desire and passion to live obedient lives for God.  God wants to play beautiful music through our lives so that a lost world may hear “songs of grace”.

Sometimes we say, “God why is there so much pressure in my life right now?”   “Why am I going through this valley of darkness, this time of trouble?”  It may be that the Divine Musician is simply tightening the strings of our lives, fine tuning us, that we may bring GLORY to Him!  The call to faith is simply that–a call to learn dependence upon God.  A call to trust Him with everything in our lives.  A call to let Him be LORD of our lives, and do His work within us. 

Every great musician wants a fine tuned instrument!  God is no different!  The music of grace is something the world needs to hear.  There are many people today who need hope, and meaning, and purpose, and peace in their lives.   I believe Jesus Christ can bring all of these things to our lives when we trust Him by faith.  Let the Divine Musician fine tune your life today.  Let Him make the necessary adjustments in your life so that His music can be played through your life.  Let Him do the work within in that’s needed!  If you’re going through difficult times, ask for the grace to help you endure.  If you feel you’re being stretched beyond your ability to endure, be reminded that the Divine Musician is simply fine tuning His instrument so that beautiful music can be played.  Don’t grumble and complain.  Don’t become disheartened.  Trust!   Believe!  Surrender!  Let the Hand of the Master rest upon your life today and trust in His goodness and faithfulness to you.

“I will exalt you, O Lord, for You lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me.  O Lord my God, I called to You for help and You healed me.  O Lord, You brought me up from the grave, You spared me from going down into the pit.  Sing to the Lord, you saints of His; praise His holy name.”      Psalm 30:1-4