Experiencing God's Goodness in the Midst of Trial

Pretend with me for a moment. You have a career. You’re not just any employee, you’re well liked, dependable, approachable, and coachable. In two days, your boss, who loves you, is going to congratulate you on a pay raise because the work you’ve done over the past month has made you an asset to the company and deserving of a pay raise.

You also attend a church whose values line up with yours, and the community you surround yourself with is also a big part of this church. In addition, this church you attend has a hipster name, like Gethsemane, and serves coffee before every service. It’s obviously a highly-favored church with a name like Gethsemane.

Moving to your friend group. Most of your tight-knit circle is from church, with the exception of a few coworkers and friends from the weekend tennis club you joined last month. Because of your vibrant personality, you make friends quickly because you are so well liked. Thanks to Instagram, your spouse is well liked too, and you have to set reminders on your phone to ensure the topic does not revolve around him in all conversations with your friends.

Ok, you get the gist. You have a good life. You have the kind of life that allows you to play cornhole at a BBQ you hosted for your church-going Christian friends while also setting aside enough time to minister to your work friends, see your mentor on a weekly basis, attend a small group led by an elder of the church you go to, and go on some quality time dates with your spouse. There’s a lot of good going on that even your best friend would have to go deep sea diving to find something wrong with your life.

But say something did go wrong. For the sake of the point, we’re not going to list the endless possibilities and combinations of what could derail a perfect life. What do you do when something disrupts it?

Unfortunately, it is often the case that the God we praise on Sunday mornings quickly becomes the subject of attack. Suddenly, the God we discuss at 7pm Tuesday night “Life Group” becomes the Customer Service Complaint Center. Worse, our prayers turn into temper tantrums that would make any bystander question your friendship with God to begin with.

Does this sound too harsh? Unfortunately, even if these situation are not spot on, they set an example for how we treat God when our faith in him is put to the test. When we behave like this, we step off the rocky foundation our house should be built on (Matthew 7:24). We even sometimes look up at the house we built on the rock, shake our finger at it, and start building sandcastles below it. Once the waves crash in, we pout, whine, moan and groan as if the house we built our life on during the good times does not exist.

My dad would always address my stormy seasons with John 16:33 growing up: “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world.” He would address me and my hard times with this Bible verse because he knew there was something greater we had in Jesus. Our friendship with Jesus is the house built on rock. Any time we take our eyes off Jesus during any personal crisis, epidemic, or pandemic which might stir up fear and doubt, we start building new houses on sand without God. The harsh reality is that some of us who say we are Christians during “Christmastime” seasons are waging war with God during the “Stormy” seasons. To that I say, “Choose a side!” If you accept God into your heart during the good, this does not automatically withhold you from experiencing pain; what it does do is give you a place of refuge in the midst of the battles, storms, and painful seasons of life. It give you a place to stand when the Devil commands you to sit. It give you a house to reside in whose foundation rests on a rock where no storm can wipe it out.

And when we build our house on the rock, we are building it upon the truth of God, in the good and bad seasons of life. In the seasons where we feel like our world is being flipped upside down and during seasons of victory. John Piper wrote a book during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 called, Coronavirus and Christ. In it, he asserts, “Our heart says ‘yes! We have tasted and seen’ [that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8)]…the knowing is well founded. We are not leaping in the dark.” The firm foundation built on rock is tasting and seeing the Lord is good no matter how our seasons pan out. Why? Because our firm foundation is ‘well founded.’

During my troubles, dad emphasized the fact that the world’s troubles will never amount to the love and care we have in Jesus. In Jesus, we are cared for beyond any trouble that will come our way. In this world, we will always come out victorious, even if it feels like we have lost too much. The first part of John 16:33 is equally applicable: “I have told you these things so that you may have peace.” When do we need the most peace? When we’re feeling anxious, scared, and filled with worry! When do we have anxiety and fear? In the midst of our personal storms. Our personal storms are when we need the peace of God to “transcend all understanding…so that [his peace] will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). The peace of God, which has overcome the world, is the rock which we build our foundation on. In fact, we know that God’s peace is a major part of our foundation because that is what Jesus left us with before he ascended to heaven after his resurrection: “I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give you is a gift the world cannot give” (John 14:27). We can weather any storm with this gift. “Live or die, you will be with [God]…this is a firm rock under my feet. It is not fragile, not sand,” Piper writes in his book. Much like building our foundation on rock, the rock represents knowing God is in control whether we live or die. “Live or die, you will be with me” is having the peace of mind in the here and now because his will is for us to be with and him with us; that he loves us and will protect us at all costs.

Where this is illustrated perfectly, in a small yet profound moment, is in Genesis 22, when Abraham starts one of his days with an interesting command from God. “Take your son, your only son, whom you love…Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” ‘Interesting’ is a word that does not even do justice to describe the magnitude of that request. It is interesting enough for God to command any father to kill his son, but at this point in the Bible story, God is asking Abraham to sacrifice the one son he blessed Sarah and Abraham with at old age.

The absurdity of this command has multiple layers. First, what kind of loving God would ask you to sacrifice a young child, let alone your own child whom you love deeply? Second, Abraham and Sarah gave birth to Isaac after a long life without children together. Isaac was the only child given to the both of them by God, and right when you thought the layers of this command couldn’t make it more otherworldly than it already is, Abraham and Sarah were around 100 years old when they finally had a child to call their own (Genesis 21:1-7).

So, when Genesis 22 does not waste any time introducing us with God telling Abraham to replace the animal sacrifices with his son Isaac, it makes you wonder what was actually going through Abraham’s mind when the very next verse explains that he went straight to loading his donkey the following morning (see Genesis 22:3) in preparation to sacrifice his only son as a burnt offering.

Does Abraham ever think, Yeah God, I’m going to have to pass on that, or Am I hearing you correctly God? We can only infer that Abraham’s obedience to God is a measure of the level of faith he has that God can be trusted. “Faith had taught him not to argue, but to obey,” Matthew Henry writes in his commentary of Genesis 22. Faith is the assurance that what “God commands is good.” Do our strong trials exercise our strong faith and trust in God, or does it bring forth doubt, defiance, and lack of reverence?

Sometimes, our faith and assurance in the goodness of God must extend beyond one moment and one season. The trip to Moriah that God commanded Abraham to go to was not a three hour hike. According to Genesis 22:4, it was the third day of Abraham and Isaac’s journey before he even saw the place where Isaac would be sacrificed. By day three, Abraham only saw the place, so it had to have taken more than three days to get there. Regardless of whether it took three days or more, Matthew Henry concludes that three days symbolized a “time to consider and might deliberately obey.”

Whether you are waiting for a life-long partner, moving on from heartbreak, a pandemic to end, a secure career to line up in your favor, moving into a stable living condition, a three day trip to Moriah looks quite different to you. Whatever your season looks like, in your moments of uncertainty and time of deliberation, do you still hold true to the promises of God? Do you still believe God’s goodness will reign supreme? In the three day journey, God could have stopped Abraham and said, “Don’t do it! Don’t kill your son!” In the three days, Abraham could have argued with God, telling him, “If you’re a good God, you would provide a sheep to take the place of Isaac!”

We do that with God. Often, our prayers sound more like courtroom accusations than an act of faith and reverence to the Lord’s will. We question his authority and sovereignty as if our bitter words will jolt him out of his apathetic attitude towards humanity and force him to do something that aligns with our desires. We don’t trust God’s narrative, so we label him a lazy, untrustworthy God for not changing it for our benefit. At best, we give God the silent treatment until he is worthy of praise.

But what if, instead of trying to force God to change his narrative through fighting words, we trusted in the promises of God throughout his narrative? Take a look at how Abraham responds when his son asks him about the sacrifice:

“Isaac turned to Abraham and said, ‘Father?’

‘Yes, my son?’

‘We have the fire and the wood,’ the boy said, ‘but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?’

‘God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son…’”

This dialogue between father and son is so powerful because it is the definition of faith and trust within the story. God will provide. There is no time to argue with God, so in my obedience, I will trust that God knows best. This is Abraham’s mindset towards God. Abraham only knew that he was supposed to kill his son. He did not yet know God would provide an animal sacrifice to replace Isaac. But faith knew. Faith in the goodness of God knew. The story ends with God providing a ram for Abraham to take the place of Isaac so he wouldn’t have to die. Furthermore, Abraham is blessed beyond measure for his faith that God would spare Isaac. “Because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your son, your only son, I swear by my own name that I will certainly bless you” (Gen. 22:16-17). And bless Abraham he did; with a number of descendants so great, Abraham couldn’t even count them.

Not once did Abraham question God, argue with God, or belittle God in this passage because of faith and a knowledge of God’s character. There is something powerful about standing true to what you know about God and not letting circumstances interfere with how you see him.

Your faith, trust, and reverence towards God should be the most important aspect of each season. Your circumstances shouldn’t determine your view of God; your allegiance to God should be the lens you view your circumstances through. Let the character of God guide you through the pay raises and the heartbreaks of life. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you, whether your life is viewed as flawless or you’ve hit rock bottom. The goodness of God does not change because circumstances do. No matter which direction your life is headed, let God be the consistent beacon of hope in every season, because he is a perfect God who will guide us through every troubling experience we face.

What your belief and trust in God will do is allow you to overcome every obstacle that stands in your way because your faith is grounded in a powerful God who can help you weather any storm. You are armed with peace, understanding, patience, and strength when you press into the goodness of God and not let your current situation define the sovereignty of God. With God, all things are possible, and you can rest in knowing that no storm is too big for him.

Check out this video link that explains my view on COVID-19 and Genesis 22

How to Counterattack the Devil - Pt. 2 ('Away From Me Satan' edition)

When Jesus became aware his mission would soon come to fruition, he spoke to the disciples about the Advocate. The Advocate, also known as the Holy Spirit, would act on behalf of Jesus and reside in our hearts, directing us into all Truth, and speaking holiness into our thoughts and actions. Though Jesus would not be walking the Earth much longer in this scene with the disciples, he reassured them that he would be with them until the end of time, providing them with peace along the way. Among stepping in as a representative of Jesus, the Holy Spirit would “teach you everything” (John 14:26) and also remind the disciples what Jesus taught them. During this time, right before Jesus would be arrested and sentenced to death, Jesus made it clear that the disciples would do the things Jesus did during his time on Earth."Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father" (John 14:12).

That sounds surreal, doesn’t it? The same Jesus who multiplied food, raised people from the dead, and healed too many people to count in the Bible is the same Jesus who resides in me?  This is the same Jesus who cast out demons and sent them into a herd of pigs, where they then drowned (Luke 8:30-33), so the fact that Jesus tells us that we have the power of himself within us is unbelievable.

Ok, we could probably all admit Jesus directing demons into pigs is a bit strange; it’s not the type of bedtime story you’d read to your 5-year-old kid. Additionally, most of what Jesus did was considered supernatural and beyond comprehension. Still, when Jesus said we would do what he did, it’s clear he meant it, which means we should live like the power of God that was given to Jesus is in us as well. Most of the time, we think of Jesus’ miracles like when he cast out demons as examples of doing things Jesus’ way. It even frightens some of us into thinking we might have to live dangerously the way Jesus did. But we need to remember Jesus’ miracles and supernatural lifestyle do not always need to be the baseline for how we should live like him; we should also consider how he loved others, looked out for the orphans and least lovable. And, in this case…

Doing Jesus things does not always mean doing miracles, raising dead to life, and possibly displacing demons into a sounder of swine. Even when we encounter attacks from the Devil, we should respond the way Jesus did. If we to do the [things] Jesus did, as John says, we can also counterattack the way Jesus responded to Satan. The Holy Spirit in us, acting as a divine guide in our hearts, will lead us into all Truth, even in the midst of Satan's attacks.

John 14:26-27, part of which was mentioned earlier: “But when the Father sends the Advocate as [Jesus’] representative – that is, the Holy Spirit – he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything [Jesus has] told you.”

John 14:13-14: “You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”

So, we not only are called to do the works of Jesus, but we are left with the Holy Spirit to lead us and continue to instruct us into all Truth, and we can ask for anything in Jesus' name, and it will be done. This means we can respond to Satan with authority the way Jesus did, walk in step with the Holy Spirit as if we are walking in step with Jesus, and receive divine assistance when we ask for help when we're under attack? According to John 14, yes we can. Talk about a deal! If this is true, we should never forget these verses when going into battle. Victory is imminent!

However, when it comes to spiritual opposition, we seem to forget the words Jesus left the disciples (and us) with. We often cower in fear like we never had armor to begin with, so it is of utmost importance that we heed the following words of wisdom and take them with us wherever we go. They promise power and authority from Heaven to our hearts. If Jesus could confront the twisted words of the Devil with Truth, so can we

When we think about what we can do with Jesus in our hearts, we cannot limit the power he contains. A good place to start when preparing our heart and mind to respond to the Enemy’s attacks is to study how Jesus behaved towards Satan when he tempted him.

I think it’s time we take the power we have to fend off Satan’s attacks seriously if we have not already done so. When Jesus says “…whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these…”, he was comforting his disciples by reminding them that they have power and authority from Heaven. If we are to prepare for Satan’s attacks and schemes, shouldn’t we first study Jesus’ every demeanor, behavior, attitude, and response to these types of situations if we are to overcome the Enemy?

One place to look is in Matthew 4:1-11, where Jesus is confronted by Satan. Here, Satan tempts Jesus three times by commanding him to turn stones into bread, throwing himself off a temple, and bowing down to worship him. Despite these three temptations, Jesus eventually convinces the Devil to leave without a single second of success to boast about. How does Jesus walk away unscathed.

1. Jesus follows Scriptures commands

Satan comes on the scene while Jesus is led by the Spirit to the wilderness. He tells Jesus to turn the stones into loaves of bread. We all know Jesus could do it, but it was not in alignment with God’s plan. God’s reply? A reference to the Old Testament: “‘People do not live by bread alone,’ Jesus replies, unfazed by the Devil’s tactics, “‘But by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4). There is evidence Jesus uses the Old Testament to help him because Deuteronomy 8:3 says the same thing: “Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with Manna…He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”

While we could go on and on about God’s challenge to live in humility and why God would allow the Israelites to go hungry just to teach a lesson, the point is that Jesus utilizes the words of his Father and how powerful they can be when applied to difficult situations. And Jesus did not hesitate! He brought the power of Scripture to life by using it within the context of temptation.

What did Satan do? He moved on from the first temptation, unsuccessful, and took Jesus to the holy city in Jerusalem. The Devil even twists Scripture to fit his agenda. Once again, Jesus, fully human, combats the fiery arrows with Scripture. But this particular reference contains more:

2. Jesus pledges his allegiance to his Master

“…You must not test the Lord your God” (Matthew 4:7), Jesus replies to Satan’s twisting of Scripture. In this part of the passage, Jesus does an exceptional job modeling his dedication to the Father. His response to jumping off the temple and saving himself is a testimony to what can be overcome when we pledge our allegiance to God. Consider this: the way we remove ourselves from temptation can be just as honoring to God as doing something good for him. God wants us to be of sound mind, which includes being transformed into his likeness. Turning our allegiance to God rather than listening to the whispers of Satan is paying our respects to the position God has in our lives. I am a child of God, so I don’t walk the wide road; I walk the straight and narrow.

As if the first two rejections were not enough, Satan tries to successfully remove Jesus from connection to the Father by commanding Jesus to “kneel down and worship me” (Matthew 4:9) and he will give Jesus all of the kingdoms and their glory. Funny, because Jesus’ mission was not to take all of the kingdoms and claim glory to be his; he came to bring glory to God and expose God for who he really is: the Savior of the world. While Satan’s ploy was to get Jesus to stop focusing on the eternal goodness of God, Jesus used this strategy to conquer Satan’s attacks.

3. Jesus doesn’t beat around the bush

For the third time, Jesus combats Satan by referencing Scripture: “You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him” (Matthew 4:10). However, while these words are powerful and important to focus on (especially when the enemy attacks), let’s look at what Jesus says before this in verse 10: “Get out of here, Satan.” Jesus doesn’t have time to negotiate with Satan, and neither should we. The longer we let him linger, the more power we give him. Satan wants to destroy you, even if he disguises it by wrapping destruction in a neat bow (twisting Scripture, ‘promising’ kingdoms and glory, etc.). Jesus, in essence, says, “You don’t belong here, so you may leave.” It is not a recommendation, but a command.

Satan might have power, but his power amounts to dust compared to what God has. Because the power of God resides in us (as a gift), we too can command Satan to leave our presence. How do we know this? Check out what happens next in verse 11: “Then the Devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.”

Notice the two things that happened in verse 11. 1) The Devil obeyed Jesus; his power to continue fighting back was removed from him. He had no choice because Jesus left him no choice. “Not on my watch!” 2) Angels came to Jesus’ aid. How often do we cave in right before God sends reinforcements? Whether it is through church community, a direct word from the Lord, a family member coming to assist you, or some other miracle in your life, how often do we throw in the towel before the great thing happens?

We don’t have to let Satan get away with trickery when we have the gift of spiritual leaders and mentors in our lives. When we choose to put ourselves out there and keep in touch with a body of believers, we are putting on that metaphorical armor that can defend us from Satan’s evil plot to destroy.

From this passage, two lessons can be learned: 1) We have more power to resist Satan than we know because the supernatural resides in us and 2) Sometimes we have to go through a few attacks to demonstrate faith in the God despite the difficulties. Just because Jesus was tempted and attacked by Satan, it doesn’t mean he lost; Jesus only stood his ground on the solid rock even more and Satan walked away with nothing. 

Sure, we can argue that works means his ministry, like when he cast out demons and raised people from the dead or cured them from disease. So, when John 14:12 says "...whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing," we could strictly talk about miracles, loving others, and promoting the Gospel in supernatural ways. But, everything Jesus did on Earth was part of his ministry, even when Satan tempted him. In addition to Jesus erasing our debt to sin, his life was a model for how we as believers should live to glorify God in every situation before us. Living to glorify God includes saying no to Satan with power and authority. When Jesus was tested by the Devil in Matthew 4, Jesus established Father God as the great Authority and glorified God each of the three times Satan tempted him in this passage. Therefore, the testing of Jesus in the wilderness was part of his ministry. In the end, the Devil could not succeed against the power of Jesus! Amen!

So, where is your allegiance when things don’t go your way? How do you demonstrate unequivocal faith to God when the tables turn against you like Jesus did in the wilderness? How is your attitude when you’re dealt a bad hand in your wilderness? Does Satan merely push you around into doing what he wishes, enslaving you and shackling you into the ball and chain of his lies and empty promises? Or do you “Submit, yourselves, then, to God. Resist the Devil…” (James 4:7) and he flees from you the way he did with Jesus in Matthew 4? Will you say no, "away from me Satan," just as Jesus did? Will you allow the power of the Holy Spirit, the sovereignty of the Almighty, and the authority of God's Holy Word command the Enemy to back down and have no place in your life?

When you look at Matthew 4, be inspired by the little power Satan does have when confronted with the magnificence of God’s Truth. It’s not that Satan is not powerful, but that God’s sovereignty and supremacy is infinitely more powerful. So, the next time you feel the wrath of Satan nipping at your heels, remind yourself how you can overcome the Enemy with these strategies:

1. reference the power of the Word

2. declare your allegiance to the One True God

3. be strong, bold, and forceful towards Satan (if he speaks lies over you, spit the Truth back to him!)

4. surround yourself with a courageous, fierce, wise body of believers who are committed to putting God first.

Do these things, and the ground you build your house upon no Enemy can destroy. You can silence the Devil and sever ties with his tricks through partnership with God's will for you today, in this very moment! It's time to start are divine revolution in your life NOW!

Seeing Through the Struggle: The Gift of Promises

You see it on graduation caps, church slogans, websites, social media profiles, favorite verses on Christian Mingle. Surely, you know exactly what verse I'm referring to without me telling you. According to Biblegateway.com, this verse is ranked second most popular in the Bible. John 3:16 is number one. It's no surprise John 3:16 is number one, since it is full of good feelings and an incredible reminder of how much God sacrificed to be in relationship with us. Number two on the list is similar to number one: a feel-good promise that demonstrates how deeply God values us. Unfortunately, the same verse that delivers good feelings to all is also misunderstood by many.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" 

When you type in Jeremiah 29:11 into Google, the eighth website to pop up is titled, "Stop Taking this Verse Out of Context!" My guess is that this verse is taken out of context quite often. Similar to those signs in the park that say, "Do not feed geese pizza." Most likely, someone fed the geese Pizza Hut and killed a couple of them. Don't get me wrong, I do believe God has plans to prosper us. God literally is love (1 John 4:16), and God being love is directly associated with his desire to prosper us like we use our legs to walk. So, when someone uses Jeremiah 29:11 to comfort a friend who is struggling, it does make sense.

The dialogue we might have with someone else about Jeremiah 29:11 is not off the mark, but it is often the default response, and sometimes, hearing a response like that doesn't automatically turn things around for that person struggling. It doesn't make the struggle magically disappear if we memorize that verse. However, if we look at Jeremiah 29:11 from a different angle, we might quickly discover a different perspective on the struggle. Whether we are the one struggling or we are helping someone through a struggle, what if Jeremiah 29:11 was presented in the context in which it was actually given and declared?

Now, let's take it a step further: what if we saw Jeremiah 29:11 was more about God's promise to community, not to the individual? Further, God's promise to prosper us and not harm us does not mean we will be without pain, suffering, and tribulation. In fact, James 1:5 instructs us to take joy in the trials! God's declaration that his plan does not include harm does not mean we will live pain-free lives because God will magically take them away. No, God is declaring that his promise to bring about hope from a hopeless situation and good from a season of sorrow still stands. Despite their horrible situation, and "though the deliverance of the church do not come in our time, it is sufficient that it will come in God’s time, and we are sure that that is the best time" (Biblestudytools.com). Why? Because his promise is to prosper us, even if it means wading through the pain first.

The Lord is never at an uncertainty (Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary), so his promises remain, even if our sin nature brings about temporary destruction. See, God does not promise we will be exempt from temporal pain (John 16:33), but he does promise his protection and guidance through a world filled with sin. Though pain may come in the night, joy and prosperity is promised for tomorrow (Psalm 30:5). Tomorrow might be 5 years from now. Breakthrough might not come until 10 years from now. Victory might not be evident until we are standing before God in the Heavenly realms, but it doesn't take anything away from God's sovereignty and ability to do exactly as he promised: configuring a plan to prosper us, to give us hope an a future.

How can we apply this to our prayer life and life in general? How can we live out Jeremiah 29:11 in the context it was written? First, don't waste time questioning why God is allowing the pain and suffering. Instead, turn mourning into praise and adoration - looking forward to his promises despite what a sinful world might do to derail you from resting on those promises.

Stop begging God to do away with the pain so you can feel better, but instead declare those promises over you and watch God transform you through the holiness he freely gives - "Be holy, because I am holy" (1 Peter 1:15-16). You are set a part, so no amount of pain and suffering you go through in this life will diminish or destroy God's promise to you and for you. You will still have a future despite your setbacks.You will have setbacks despite God's plan for you, but those setbacks will never come close to disqualifying God from acting on those promises.You still have a reason to hope for a brighter future, despite present circumstances screaming otherwise. If we tune our ears toward eternity, not just in the present downfall we're experiencing, we will quickly turn our sorrow into dancing because God does not just have eternity in store for us, his promises are eternal as well. They do not fade.

God's promise in Jeremiah 29:11 is to the Jews, who were taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon during the king's reign. Talk about an unfortunate time for the Jews! They were considered exiles, yet God's plan was to not harm them but to give them prosperity and hope for a brighter future? Doesn't look like it! It looks like they're prisoners!

Maybe you are experiencing life as if you're a prisoner - no hope, just pain and suffering. During this time, it is so difficult to rely on the promises of God. Jeremiah 29:11 does not promise the problems will go away quicker than OxiClean gets the stain out, but God does promise prosperity despite the current struggle, even if prosperity doesn't reveal itself until later. And, maybe the pain you're experiencing might be one of the very aspects of your life that launches you into something greater.

So, during the struggle, wait on God. Use the struggling time in the desert to speak with him and listen to his voice. Before you know it, you will find yourself in the En Gedi of your life, sipping from the stream and thanking God for what it took to get there. Be patient, rest in his promises, and when the desert shows up, his promises will guide you to the stream of Living Water.

Seeing Through the Struggle: The Gift of Perseverance

Within the church, I hear a common phrase uttered among folks of all ages: “I’m in a difficult season,” or “we’re going through some challenges.” In fact, these topics of conversation are not just limited to the churchgoing family or individual. We are all guaranteed difficulty, and some encounter seasons that cannot be overcome by the power of the individual experiencing the pain. God doesn’t promise a pain-free life for those who believe in him, but he does promise he has overtaken it. There is victory in the end! Unfortunately, in moments of struggle, it is hard to see past the fog and into the perspective of God. Even if God doesn’t snap his fingers to make the fog disappear, he does give us the perfect set of instructions on how to encounter the season of obstacles. Within these set of instructions, God promises us an outcome that develops from putting on an attitude, mindset, and perspective that not only honors him, but delivers you through the difficulty and into victory.

        One of these mindsets comes from James 1:1-4:

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Not only are we commanded to allow the trials to test our faith, but to take joy in them! Be thrilled that you get to experience difficulty, because in the end, it is the pathway to maturity and completeness in Christ. Your joy through pain is not an excuse for complacency and laziness; we are also called to act in wisdom, not like the foolish and ignorant. However, our attitude and perspective should be focused on our end goal: how our trials can positively influence our maturity in Christ Jesus. Unfortunately, it is during struggle we often take our eyes off of Jesus and/or demand that he take care of our situation. Our attitude is not right. Perseverance is being patient in the midst of difficulty. Unfortunately, steep in fight or flight, we go into protective mode, building steel walls around our heart so nothing can penetrate its vulnerable state. We close up instead of opening up to God’s provision. We become so damaged when we face trials and will even go as far as crafting made-up scenarios in our mind to justify our fear and disappointment. In essence, the trials and possibility of upcoming trials dictate our present attitude. Often, we kick God out of the situation and/or let the situation determine how we approach God instead of letting God teach us and mold us through the struggle.

In James 1:1-4, he does not diminish the impact trials have on us. In no way is James downplaying the power a difficult season can have. Instead, he is describing a mindset we can choose to have in the midst of a season we have don’t have a choice over. Nobody ever told you you have to cheer up when life is tough, but nobody said you couldn’t take joy in those seasons either. Yes, trials are no fun, but trials never had control over your attitude and perspective. You do. You can choose joy through trials instead of pouting about it. God didn’t just gift you with life, but he gifted you the freedom to choose who you trust in and what attitude you will have no matter what. Choosing to have a godly perspective that is filled with joy through difficulty is another way of saying, “I trust you, Jesus! Do what you will in this season.”

 Despite the world providing “solutions” on how to cure “bad vibes” by “doing you,” ask God what he is looking to do with you through the season of trial. A trial-filled season is not the time to bail on God, but to lean in, stand your ground, and go deeper than you have ever gone before. What if instead of reacting through your emotions, you listen to the Spirit and what it is saying to you? Your response to trials will determine the level of growth you reach. Don’t let the level of difficulty you face determine the limitations you place on your growth. God has gifted you the ability to persevere and overcome in the midst of pain. Let it finish its work so you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Amen.

How to Figure God Out

Most relationships are like rollercoasters - up and down, up and down. And, though some may argue they have one that is mostly up (or mostly down), it is safe to say no relationship will ever grow if it is 100% up. Why? Because we're dealing with vastly different people. Like snowflakes, we are all completely different from one another; different mindsets, approaches, ideas, hobbies, dislikes, and triggers for different moods.

Being different from someone close to you can be difficult. Why? Because life is easier when everyone agrees with you or looks up to your lifestyle. Teams work better when they agree to a common cause. Congregations form when they agree to the Scriptures and the concepts being taught at church. Everybody feels better when the environment breeds a sense of agreement, nodding of heads, and the word "yes" and "no" said in unison.

Usually, when we come across someone too different than us, but close enough to us, we do one of four things:

1. We try to change them.

2. We conform to what they do/say.

3. We completely walk away from that friendship

4. We accept them for who they are, despite being different than us.

At this point, it is safe to say any other response or reaction would probably fall under one of the three categories listed above.

For example, say your close friend does not like any physical sport, and you do. You have gone all of this time avoiding any physical sport with this person because he will awkwardly join in and fail miserably or he will continue to say no. You have spent most of your friendship agreeing with yourself that you will save him the turmoil of wishing he had never joined in on the "fun," so you never ask him to join you. Finally, the day has come when you ask. Well, if you were following #1 in the list above, you would strive to devoting all of your time changing that person's mindset, treating your friendship with that person as if you were a salesperson and he were your client. You expend all of your energy trying to change that person.

After failing to get your friend to succeed at enjoying what you enjoy, you step into option #2. You consider this to be the only opportunity to save the friendship - by conforming to the very hobbies your friend loves. You try as hard as you can to enjoy World of Warcraft, but it's simply not the same as a good game of basketball. This virtual world is too exhausting to enjoy, so you politely tell your friend this isn't working.

Now you are left with option #3 or #4: walk away or accept them. 

Interestingly, we do these things with God sometimes. In our minds, we want God to be a certain way so we can like him. We try to change him in our minds. We use the grace he has given us as an excuse to do whatever we want. We talk about how some of the laws are so "Old Testament." We want God to fulfill our every need and go as far as disguising our wants as needs. "But God, I need this..." We exchange a heart of gratitude to a tongue that demands from a long list. We complain to God and call it "venting." 

Sometimes, we shrug our shoulders and pout, "Ok...fine. You are God and I am not..." We treat the journey like it is something to whine about until God "hears" us. This, like option #1, takes so much energy and time. We are not fully grateful to God because we are tiring ourselves out with prayers that begin with "But God...." Whether we speak these things directly to God or not, we have this mentality that my life will have to be a living Hell if I am going to have to follow him. We are tricked into believe that God will put us behind bars and take away our fun the moment we show ourselves to him.

So we are left with two options. We accept God for who he is or we walk away from God because of who he is not to us. Unfortunately, there are many who choose the second option. They are tired of the mysteries and the false hope and trying to solve God like he's a puzzle that's missing the last piece. Over time, these people move on and accept the notion that God is not worth their time. 

Whatever the case is, each option above takes so much effort. It takes endless amounts of hair-pulling, teeth-grinding, face-grabbing, and tear-shedding to understand the depths of who God is. Most give up. They separate themselves from him and depend on ignorance and/or bitterness to move on, independent from believing in what they do not understand. Some believe the world will be good to them, giving them fame and attention. And some, still bitter, choose to live the rest of their life slamming God every opportunity they can. Why? Because we long to figure out what we don't know. We desire to have life understood. We crave knowledge and yearn for that knowledge to be at our fingertips. When we don't understand, we look for something else to take its place.

All along, 1 Corinthians 2 exists. And all along, Paul has it clear-cut. We don't need to solve God. We don't need him to be like us or us to be exactly like him to know who he is. Besides, the best relationships are not about what you do together, but about getting to know each other. A relationship with God does not need to involve hobbies or the difference between comfortable and uncomfortable, but it is simply about getting to know the deep love that God desires to lavish on you. God loves you more than you know, and though it comes as a mystery, it is worth pursuing. God is the captain of a ship called Love, and he is good at what he does. He is masterful at it. You don't need to be good at it to receive his love. It doesn't need to be your "hobby" for God to pour it out to you. The moment you spend time with him, with a heart wide open, you become one with him. You share his thoughts and think his ideas (1 Corinthians 2:12)

As we walk this journey, many will falter. Many give up. You might be on the verge of giving up, or you know you never will, but you question God. You are angry at God. You don't understand him, so you are bothered. But be encouraged. Paul says, "What we have received is not the Spirit of the World, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words" (1 Corinthians 2:12-13). 

God and his spiritual realities cannot be taught through mere human words. It cannot be fully understood by man's words, but words inspired by God himself, which is Scripture and those who listen to the prompting of the Spirit:

2 Timothy 3:16 - "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness."

1 Thessalonians 1:4-5 - "For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power,with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction."

These two truths keep us grounded in our faith, and because of our faith - being "...fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises" (Romans 4:21) - we can be counted as righteous in his sight. We believe God for what he reveals to us in his timing. As we trust him and believe in him without wandering thought, we receive the blessing in knowing more of him and being promised "the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16).

We know his thoughts, and he freely gives his thoughts to us. Just be you. Let God be God. You don't need to be him when he wants you to be you. He wants to show you, teach you, and instruct you to see things the way he does. That can only happen when we act like his child, not his owner. It isn't your job to figure God out. It is God and the Holy Spirit's job to reveal him to you. And He will do it. Just listen, love, and be amazed by what he has in store. As we continue walking, running, tripping, stumbling, and sprinting through life, remember:

"'What no eye has seen,
    what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived'—
    the things God has prepared for those who love him—
these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit" 
(1 Corinthians 2:9-10).

Keeping the Faith - Runner's Terms

Running is an interesting hobby. It takes time to appreciate, and most of the time, it's like a movie without a happy ending. Why do most of us run? To be happy and healthy. But, when you press play on your iPod, do your stretches, and prepare your 4-mile run, it's not the most exciting feeling. For the most part, you just want the end result. Once you begin running, time halts. Every second feels like an eternity, and every muscle in your body reminds you that bedtime is better than any physical activity you try to perform. You envision an effortless prance through the field, but you feel torment. You dream dreams of bounding with the antelopes along the lush hills of Ireland, but you are constantly awoken by the harsh realities of being out of shape. 

Often, running and life go hand-in-hand. Just like running, life can sometimes be one twisted ankle after another. Eventually, we throw our hands up and yell back, "Why me?!" When we watch the Hollywood movies and look at Facebook pictures of our friends at parties, we envision that perfect society we've created in our head. No trickery, no harsh realities. Unfortunately, what we wish for does not come true.

As life continues taking its course, it continues taking a toll on our lives. We begin to lose heart, and just like running in a race, we begin to feel discouraged. We feel dehydrated, hurt, and our legs give out. Quitting never sounded better. All of the cliche "You can do it!" posters only mock your chances of making it.

Well, you do have your reasons. You do have your excuses. And boy, are they good. They could almost convince anyone that your moping, whining, and complaining is perfectly acceptable. According to Scripture, though, no reasons or excuses are worth responding that way: "Do everything without grumbling or complaining, so that you may become blameless and pure" (Philippians 2:14-15). And, according to Philippians, this means in all circumstances. It does not say, "Do certain things without grumbling or complaining." It says everything.

So, now that we understand when it is acceptable to complain, whine, and moan, we should look at Paul's response to our desire to quit running the race of life:

Galatians 5:7-8: "You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you (God)."

The Galatians - the people Paul was speaking to at the time - were believers in God and the Law, but began being led astray. They were runners who were quitting on their faith. Circumstances caused them to throw in the towel. Paul confronts them and asks, "What reasons do you have to quit? You were doing well!"

We often look at circumstances around us and think there are enough adequate reasons to stop running, unaware of how well we were actually doing. While it is crucial to attend to your feelings and understand where they come from, we have to be careful so as not to remove ourselves from the race. Hebrews 12:1-2 says, "...let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith (NLT)." So, with Jesus as our Usain Bolt of life-runners, we can now follow his lead because he was a "champion" during his time on Earth. Jesus demonstrated what a Christ-like life should look like as a human being with feelings, skin, bones, and a soul.

So how can we "run with endurance the race God has set before us"? First, we can "Set our mind on things above, not on earthly things" (Colossians 3:2). Additionally, we can "Be strong in the Lord and his mighty power. Put on the full amour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes" (Ephesians 6:10-11). Finally, we can "Rejoice always, pray continually, (and) give thanks in all circumstances..." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - also Philippians 4:6). There is nothing like combating the world's troubles with praise, thanksgiving, and genuine prayer to our Lord.

As a cross-country runner growing up, the phrase heard most often was, "Pace yourself." In running terms, that meant to save the sprint for the last .1-.2 miles left. The last leg was meant to be an all-out sprint because it was an opportunity to pass a lot of other runners who did not pace themselves very well. As a result, if the last tenth of a mile were run correctly, the runner would usually climb three to four spots in the ranks because of this all-out sprint. Despite feeling nauseous and woozy at the end of the race, there was satisfaction in knowing you gave it your all; you held nothing back. When Paul wrote to the man he was mentoring, Timothy, he said, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7).

When you are ready to be with God in Heaven; when your time comes to a close, do you want the assurance of knowing that you were ready to meet with him for eternity?  Do you feel you could say that today? No matter what happens in this lifetime, you know with 100% assurance that you did not waver in your faith? Do you want the confidence of knowing that you fought the good fight?

A Perfect Perspective

God is worthy of our worship. We love Him because of what he has done for us and how he has given us a new outlook and direction in life. All of this is true, and it is a valid reason to love him in return.

But what about when our new direction is painful? What if the circumstances and situations in our life don't seem to change, despite our new outlook? We have an appreciation for God and it changes the way we see things, yet sometimes it does not change our surroundings. It does not change the fact that we are jobless. It does not change the fact that we need to pay bills (they don't go away). It does not change the way we are mistreated, hated, or misunderstood; sometimes, all three of these things.

Better yet, it doesn't provide an immediate global need. Starving children are not fed when we accept Christ. Homeless folks are not suddenly given a brighter future. Miracles do happen, but the world continues to be far from perfect despite our life-changing decisions.

Perfect God, imperfect society, unanswered questions; it's what you get when two dimensions of morality meet.

Unfortunately, life does not become perfect the moment we commit our lives to Christ. We still "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). There is still starvation, murder, adultery, and many other sins that contaminate the very image we were created in (Genesis 1:26). We are a fallen world, and committing our life to Christ is not a magic potion that changes everything immediately.

As you read this entry, African villages are still starved out. While we receive our food in five minutes, locals in third-world countries are searching for supplies for days on end. I would be upset too. I would wonder why God is not stopping this with one powerful command.

As we react to the world's problems, our emotions get the best of us. We are angry, bitter, and infuriated. Why shouldn't we be? People are starving! As a response, we blame the first Being capable of putting an end to the problems of this world. Like a president, football coach, or village leader, fingers also point to God when something goes wrong. He is questioned, interrogated, and insulted because no immediate help has come. On the basis of unmet needs, many begin to doubt God's existence or abilities - we limit God.

Atheists abound because God appears unable to rescue a society filled with disaster, hatred, poverty, and ruin. We murmur, "If God is so loving, why does he let these things happen?" or "Why would I want to believe in God when he lets genocides happen?" 

Valid point.

In fact, these questions are so good, even scholars cannot answer them. The fact is, there is no perfect answer, which is why this is the best answer:

Ask God.

Plain and simple. Ask God. He will give you clarity. He loves being asked those questions because it shows you care. It shows you desire to know what God is already in control of. Below are some Scriptures that encourage going to God:

1. Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

2. Philippians 4:6-7 - "Do not be anxious in anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Jesus Christ." (Guard from what? The wrong answers.)

3. Matthew 7:7 - "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you" (Jesus said that!)

4. James 1:5 - "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you."

God is all-knowing. It is not just who He is that is perfect, but it is how He thinks too. As humans, we have a limited view, so our perspective will be limited as well. But, just because our perspective is limited, it does not mean we should limit Him. He is flawless, which means any wisdom he gives you is also flawless.

But, what can we do? How can we live out asking God and seeking wisdom? Here are a few things you can do (or not do):

1. Do not question God. He is perfect for a reason. Instead...
2. "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances..." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
3. If you ask, ask with an open mind. You are not better than God, so don't think a question will stump Him.
4. Admit that you lack wisdom (James 1:5), and go to the two sources that have the answers (The Bible and God).
5. Romans 12:3 - "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgement,  in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you."
6. Do as the Lord commands, and leave the rest to Him. Psalm 112:1 - "Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands" and James 1:6 - "...But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." Do not ask to argue, but to believe and understand.

We will never fully understand God, but just because we do not understand His methods, does not mean He stops being God. He will not step down, retire, or withdraw his candidacy because people do not approve. Unfortunately, we do not have all of the answers.

Fortunately, we have access to the One who does through Jesus Christ. We can ask, seek, and understand through His lens, not ours. We love to act like we are in control, but once we admit that God is bigger than our greatest solutions, unanswered questions, and unsolvable problems, then we see God for who He really is.

After all, with a perfect God comes a perfect perspective.

Which House is Yours?

If you do not want to read the blog, get the summary in this video:

The Three Little Pigs has always been known as a classic bedtime story that sparks the interest of children around the world. In fact, its popularity has become so immense that there is more than one version to watch or read. While one version is more graphic (the wolf actually murdering the pigs), the other version has the pigs running away and finding refuge in the highly intelligent pig. Ultimately, despite the various versions available, the moral remains unchanged.

"With good work comes good fortune," one might suggests. "Heed the wisdom of the wise," another exclaims. Again, the message stays consistent throughout the decades.

So, it all begins with mother pig recognizing that her three piglets' childhood have inevitably come to a end. They have all grown up and have a chance to put to practice what they learned. The first two pigs quickly grab what they feel will make a shelter to live in, while the third pig takes his time. However, the major difference between the first two pigs and the third is the mindset they have. Pig 1 and 2 want to build a house as quick as they can; the sooner they finish, the more time they have to relax and enjoy life on their own. Pig 3 builds his house out of bricks, cement, and blueprints he has set up. His house is built out of sturdy material that will not collapse; he has a plan. The result of picking these resources means more labor and less relaxation time. Yet, Pig 3 recognizes his preparation will pay off.

As a result, Pig 1 and 2 find themselves buried beneath the wreckage of their own clumsiness, while Pig 3 eventually fools his enemy and triumphs over him. Pig 3, while he spent a majority of the story working, knew his hard work would pay off and keep him safe.

The philosophy the third pig carried with him worked: Prepare in advance what you need to do so you are ready when the enemy comes. The big bad wolf was prepared for a meal, but was the pig prepared to protect himself?

Jesus uses an illustration to communicate how crucial it is to be grounded in Christ:

"I will show you what it's like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well-built" (Luke 6:47-48).

Then Jesus adds what it would look like to not obey:

"But anyone who hears and doesn't obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins" (6:49).

We have an enemy who is constantly after us. He "prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). Like the wolf, our enemy wants to destroy us, deceive us, and lie to us. He comes wanting to blow our house, our foundation, and our security in Christ, down. Not giving up, he wants 'The bacon.' Are we ready for him when he comes to us? Do we have confidence in the framework of our life? Do we trust that our foundation in Christ is going to keep us from harm?

The way we build our house is up to us. We can spend our life without purpose and without being grounded in anything. James 1:6 commands us with a similar warning: "Be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind."

If we walk in our own desires like Pig 1 and 2, we will get swept away and lost among our own ineptitude.

In Luke 6:47-49, Jesus offers two paths. In each, there is a reward/consequence that follows. Fortunately, we don't have to be like Pig 1 and 2; we have Scripture. We also have the Holy Spirit that dwells in us when we receive his guidance and recognize our inability to run things independently. James 1:21-22 provides more direction: "So get rid of all filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says."

The Word of God, including the Holy Spirit, is your foundation. Rest in it, and the big, bad wolf will be huffing and puffing, huffing and puffing, and nothing will come down.

As you live out your journey, are you being swept away, ensnared by the desires the wolf has for you? Or, are you grounded in the Word and carefully listening to the guiding of the Holy Spirit? You always have the option, but either way, that wolf is coming to blow at your house.

River of Life

There are two sides to living: your own way, or God's way. You can live the way you want, with no allegiance to anyone but yourself. You are the commander of yourself. You are solely responsible for the type of existence you create, and the consequences that come with your choices are only made visible when you decide to make a big deal of them.

This sounds pretty good. No responsibilities. Eminem, songwriter and rap artist, once said, "I say what I want to say and do what I want to do. There's no in between. People will either love you for it or hate you for it." We can say whatever we want, do whatever we want, and whoever does not like it can lick a frozen flagpole. "Out of my way, I have a life to live," the independent fighter can say. Again, no allegiance to anyone. You rule yourself, and if anyone wants to follow, they can come along as long as it does not intrude on your decisions, choices, and minor responsibilities.

Unfortunately, those who live for themselves are prone to wickedness and deception. They only think about what suits them, and this selfish corruption they file away begins to define them. Galatians 5:19-21 says,

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

Paul, author of Galatians, wrote with the churches of Galatia in mind. He wrote to Christians who knew of sin and were aware of who it affected. If you are aware of the sin you commit, yet continue to commit it, who is your allegiance to? Just two verses prior, Paul states, "For the flesh (sinful) desires what is contrary to the Spirit (filled with the presence of God), and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want" (Galatians 5:17).

Slowly, a simple sin turns into a habit, and that habit turns into addiction. As we begin turning over to depravity, selfishness, and some of (if not all of) the sins listed above, we begin to lose the identity God intends to give us. We become unglued and run loose like beheaded chickens.

What do we do in a society like this? God's heart breaks at the rebellious children. We look in mirrors and shatter them with our corrupted identity (James 1:23). Who we are supposed to be gets locked away by the hands of demons, and our selfishness rules like an emperor of a country.

We are choking among thorns, thistles, weeds, and death. Where we sit is a graveyard. Dehydration kicks in, and those who surround us mock in ridicule and evil laughter. Lifeless, our only motivation is the hope of dying sooner than later. 

Yet, from the perspective of David, there lies another source of hope.

Not too far from corruption flows a never-ending river. It is an oasis of rich blue and delicious spring water. On the other side of that stream sits a tree. Its leaves never whither, it yields its fruit every season, and its limbs never grow tired. Here, it rests by the stream because it never thirsts (John 4:14) and never grows weary. Whatever it does, it prospers. This tree never steals, never boasts in itself, and never covets; it never grows impatient, unkind, or wicked. There is no need for this tree to sin because it "delights in the law of the Lord" (Psalm 1:2). Everyday, the tree receives life. It is always joyful, accepting, and at peace. Because it relies heavily on the water and plot of land it is given, it never wanders, but receives life everlasting.

David paints this picture in Psalm 1. In this chapter, David begins to understand how critical it is to stay committed to God and never stray. The wicked, while sitting on the opposite side as the prosperous tree, will always perish in their own foolishness (their decision). But, this tree will always be in nourished. It sits by Living Water, which will never run dry. 

Sometimes, we fall into those storms in life. We begin thinking about our problems, our issues, and our future. We leave God out of the equation, whether done intentionally or unintentionally, and we suffer for it in the end.

Plain and simple: A life without God will eventually perish, and a life with God will prosper like a tree by the riverside. 

Which side of the river do you find yourself on?

Pointing at the Wrong Person

Where is God leading you? Is it what you hoped for? Do you even know what His plan for you might be? Out of fear, you refuse to seek God and His plan for you because, on the surface, you believe ignorance is bliss. You can run about, unknowingly rebellious, and it will all work out in your favor. Wouldn't that make you happy? After all, isn't your relationship with God all about making you happy? Unfortunately, we tend to believe this is the case. Our delight in the Lord is predicated by the moments when he acts as slave to our needs. When we get what we want, we praise God for all He has done for us.

Life is good when He does that. When we are given blessings, we are thankful and content. Is it good to have a thankful heart? Of course. We are called to rejoice and give thanks for his blessings. David writes about how we should "...give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name," and to "...make known his deeds among the people" (1 Chronicles 16:8).

Sometimes, though, it appears we think that is all God is around for. We believe God has an agenda to stick to; every Sunday, provide my precious child with good words on Sunday and a restful upcoming week. As long as my precious child prays an egocentric prayer, I will bless him and he will love me for what I have done for him.

Today's view of God is a lot like this. God is the life raft when we are sinking in life's problems, and when we are not, we give God the ol' shout out. Sadly, we fall into the lie that God is our servant and the way life treats us is an excuse for how we should treat him. When life is gravy, we give God a figurative pat on the back and remind him that he is doing a good job. When things are not going our way, we question God's authority and wonder what we have done to deserve such pain.

Like Job from the Bible, we ask, "If I have sinned, what have I done to you, you who see everything I do? Why have you made me your target? Have I become a burden to you?" (Job 7:20) We feel the troubles and trials in life are God punishing us because we are bad. We begin to falsely accuse God of his ability to love us because he has not made us happy children.

If we can't look in the mirror and reflect on our own selfish tendencies, maybe a life lesson from Abraham will help. 

Abraham was the ultimate symbol of loyalty to his Creator. He knew his place, even when it did not make sense. The story begins when God calls out to Abraham and says, "Take your son, your only son, whom you love - Isaac - and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you" (Genesis 22:2). This is a command to Abraham to slaughter his one and only son [sound familiar?]. To add to it, this is the same son it took Abraham 100 years (Genesis 21:5) to have as his own. However, it is not God's command that is the focus of the lesson, but Abraham's response: "Early the next morning, Abraham got up and loaded his donkey" (verse 3). There was no hesitation, no argument, and no questioning of authority. Furthermore, whenever God asked for Abraham, "Here I am" was Abraham's reply. As Isaac caught on, he asked his father where the burnt offering was; Abraham's response? "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son" (v. 8). From the moment the journey to Moriah began, Abraham took on the "humble servant" approach. He not only kept perfect obedience with the Lord, but he also relied on God's plan without pouting.

An angel sent by God then responded to Abraham's faithfulness: "...because you have done this and withheld your son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore" (v. 16-17).

God is the ultimate authority, and as we remain faithful to his plans through humble submission each day, we will see what the Lord can do in our lives, as Abraham saw in his own life. Sometimes the Lord places trials and unique situations in our lives to test us as he did with Job and Abraham. Sometimes, he wants to strengthen us like James 1 promises. Most importantly, when trials do come our way, he wants to remind us that he is fighting with us, not against us. John 16:33 says, "I have told you these things, so that in me you will have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

As you begin delighting in the Lord, he will reveal his plan to you. He wants you to succeed (as Jeremiah 29:11 states); but, you need to know your place and trust that "God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). You need to stop pointing your finger and learn to rely heavily on him for everything, because, after all, He did save you from your sin. Instead of shifting the blame, recruit your leader to guide you through life's trials, troubles, and consequences.

So, do you delight in the Lord and all he is doing, no matter what? Do you trust him, despite the troubles this world brings? Is he only your God on Sundays, when it is easy and it confirms your place in heaven? Or, is he literally the Lord over your life? 

He loves you, so why fight his love when you can bask in it, through the good and bad?

The lyrics express how we should view God and his plan for us.

Credit: Hillsong United, Youtube

The Great (Misfortune) Gatsby

He reaches out slowly, as the green light dimly shatters the atmosphere that covers the water. Gatsby desires something he cannot put his hands on. He is desperate, wanting that intangible radiance to become physical, something he can hold, something he can claim to be his own. This green light resembles hope. It resembles everything Gatsby wishes he had. The light creates a steady beat, a heartbeat, and Gatsby will do anything to place it in his possession.

We are like the Gatsby. We live for things we cannot grasp, and we spend our lives trying to grab it. As Gatsby tried to get Daisy back, it ultimately created a frenzy and the illusion that Daisy was free for the taking – that the past could be relived. Unfortunately, we sacrifice our true nature and begin falling in the trap that the green light is why we are alive. We obsess and obsess until the green light vanishes; all we have left is the mess we've created from betraying our true love.

Gatsby, a mysterious young man who hid himself behind the parties he threw, was always considered a highly-regarded gentleman who received praise from the most well-respected officials of the United States and internationally. Yet, his motive behind throwing such decorated parties was plain and simple: to grab the attention of one thing that he could never obtain – Daisy.

We, too often, distract ourselves with the world’s desires. Like soap, we try to hold on, but these disguised “gifts” slip right through our fingers. We become possessed and enraged, murdering our innocence and pouting over what we cannot have. We throw tantrums and shackle ourselves to the wall, all the while pretending we are the victim of our stupidity. We flip the switch on ourselves as darkness consumes us and the light becomes a distant memory. Obsession leaks in, and it’s too late before we realize we never needed the flickering light to live.

One day, a wealthy man came to Jesus and asked, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus replied by telling him he must keep all the commandments. Proudly, the man replied, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth. (Mark 10:20)” Jesus calmly commanded, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. (v. 21)” The man left disheartened, “for he had great possessions. (v. 22)”

Unfortunately, we are like the man who has great possessions. Notice that Jesus said the man would have “treasure in heaven.” The man’s possessions meant such a great deal to him, that it outweighed his anticipation to receive treasures in heaven. He became so obsessed with the worldly possessions; they began to define him – like the green light that flickers. He abandoned his true love for something that fades.

Fortunately, everything we need is right in front of us. It is not in the parties we throw, or the people we know; it is not in the classes we take and pass, the education we earn, or the job we work. We do not find our purpose in the television we purchase or the vacations we take. Our life, our hope, and our purpose is found in Christ and Christ alone. He is our fortress, our refuge (read the book of Psalm), and our lover. No wonder Jesus told the rich man to sell all he has! Our riches cause chaos, like it did with Gatsby. Our identity is in God, and as long as we are reaching out for the green light, we are only living out an illusion.

We are encouraged to keep our eyes on him. Proverbs 4:25-27 provides the wisdom we need to stay focused on what is right: “Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.” And the green light? Do not look at it. It flickers, it wavers, and it is a tempting call to walk down the wide path of temporary riches and fame. Keep your eyes on the Kingdom of Heaven, and treasures of the heavenly realm will await you.

Being Faithful: Selfish-less

Being faithful to a calling is never easy. Most of the time, we do not want to be governed by another schedule, plan, or set of commands. Our dream vacation consists of what we want to do, when we want to do it; and, every hour of the day is organized by you, and you alone. Even when someone confronts you with the notion that their wish for you is the best option, you don't want to believe them, even if it is the truth. An independent life with no strings attached is exactly what we want. Our culture complains when we have to pay bills, listen to a job training seminar, attend classes on the weekend, and an endless list of other things. Worse yet, we think it is OK to complain; we think we are doing ourselves and those around us some kind of favor. When we moan, we want someone to agree with us in order to ultimately make us feel better. When someone agrees with us, it makes us want to complain more. And, the cycle begins.
What selfish people we are! We gravitate towards getting our way, and when we do not, we throw the tantrums like the ones we spent most of our time teaching children not to do. Our complaining is like a virus that convinces us that our lives are far more important than anyone else's. As Christians, this selfish behavior should alarm us. We should immediately wake up from this deceitful attitude and start walking on the path we are called to engage - and do it with a positive attitude.
If the Lord has called me to follow through on a command, He most likely will not tolerate a negative attitude. However, we still gravitate towards our desires and our own goals. On the outside, we smile and nod, knowing that God will be pleased with us when we cheerfully follow his commands. On the inside, we groan, moan, whine, complain, mumble, daudle, and shake our heads. We may even cut as deep as cussing, refusing, and labelling God as a failure to bring us happiness. As a result, we crush the relationship with God we built. Like a cheating wife, we threaten God and express our desire to walk away from the marriage.
Proverbs is a beautiful book because it talks all about wisdom. Chapter 3, verse 3 says, "Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart." No matter what, be faithful in what you do. Being faithful means sticking to the cause, no matter what the condition. It means focusing on what you were called to do, and doing it with love and devotion to the Lord. It does not matter how we feel or what we want. In the end, we need to be faithful without expecting anything in return - with 100% of our effort. Furthermore, faithfulness means loyally committing to His Ways and doing "everything without grumbling" (Phillipians 2:14).
Moses is a good example of someone who had a difficult time accepting God's purpose for him.  "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt" (Exodus 3:11), Moses quizzically asked. Even after God reassured Moses, saying, "I will be with you", Moses still had questions of doubt. In the same way, what God has called us to, He will bring us through. God is with us and will pull us through what we are called to do. As chosen ones, God will ensure that as long as we are faithful, we will not fail.
So, since God will bring us through what He called us to, let us have an attitude that spreads the Gospel; "Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth" (Psalm 57:11). Remove the grumbling, the complaining, and the selfishness, and instead replace it with praise and devotion. Most importantly, be faithful and "serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people" (Ephesians 6:7).

What is Your Diet?

What comes to mind when the words "Daniel of the Bible" shows up often brings to mind that well-known story about a man stuck in a pit full of lions and surviving. I too can attest to thinking of "Daniel and the Lion's Den" when the name Daniel comes up.

However, when you read more stories about Daniel than just the one about the Lion's Den, it is likely the overall theme Daniel represents will be noticed. All throughout the book of Daniel, we see a sort of faith that cannot be matched or compared to anyone else. Daniel stands up to unlikely situations with a mindset that God will pull him through the most difficult times. His faith is absolutely unshakable and his confidence in the Lord is what gives him strength.

Instead of looking at the Lion's Den story, lets look at an incident that is usually bypassed. I like to call it the Vegetable Story. It starts off with King Nebuchadnezzar ordering the chief of the court officials to find some servants, "without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the kind's palace" (Daniel 1:4NIV). Daniel was one of these men, so it is evident Daniel was the hot commodity in the land. What is to come, though, shows more than just his good looks, wisdom, and strong work ethic. Out of all of these characteristics, his faith is what propels him forward.

Throughout training, Daniel and the other potential servants were required to drink and eat the "royal food and wine" (Daniel 1:8NIV). However, to Daniel, what is royal to the common people was considered a defiling of the body that God created. Instead of taking in the "royal food and wine," Daniel makes his voice heard and tells the chief official that this royal food and wine is not what he should be partaking in. With the help of the Lord, the official showed "favor and compassion to Daniel" (Daniel 1:9NIV). After the chief official reminded Daniel that the king would behead the official if he had found out about Daniel's request, Daniel had come up with a solution.

"Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see" (Daniel 1:12-13NIV). Daniel, a handsome, hardworking stud is partaking in the life of a royal servant. His training involves the P.F. Chang's of dining experiences, the Atlantis, Bahamas of workplaces, and the Egg McMuffin of summer jobs. Ultimately, Daniel gets the experience of a lifetime, especially regarding food service. Like receiving a year supply of Chobani yogurt, Daniel receives a possible lifetime supply of royal food and wine; what does he suggest? Give us vegetables and water and see what we look like compared to your other servants who are living in paradise.

Alright, so Daniel decided to eat vegetables instead of royal food, water instead of wine; no big deal, right? If the guy does not like cranberry chicken, lobster, coconut shrimp, or caviar, with some of the finest wine, then that is his decision.

What makes Daniel's decision so respectable is why he chooses to decline the command to follow through with the kings orders. Daniel 1:8 says, "But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with royal food and wine." Daniel refuses to let his body be contaminated by what the world views as pleasurable. If he wants to be the best servant he can be, Daniel needs to keep his body in tip-top shape. Better yet, his solution is to eat the bare essentials for eating healthy: water and vegetables. From there, he tells the official to see what Daniel and his friends look like compared to those filled with royal food and wine. Daniel puts his faith in the strict diet he chooses over the royal food before him. No cranberry chicken for him! Save the lobster and the caviar for the others. Daniel is going to keep his body well-nourished so that he does not become lazy and ruin his body.

Like Daniel, we not only should watch what we physically eat, but what we spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and psychologically take in. Daniel refused to eat what  the world would so quickly consume, and we should learn from Daniel and do the same. As servants of Christ, we need to be aware of the difference between unhealthy and healthy. Daniel is a hero, and his faith was not only evident in the big things (near death experience with lions), but in the small things (choosing healthy food over gluttony). His heart was in the right place, and he treated his body as a "temple of the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 6:19NIV). After ten days, the bodies of Daniel and his friends looked much sharper than those who partook in the wine and royal food. The former were promoted and the latter were demoted. Through faith, Daniel declined the king's orders and went with his heart, which told him to only eat vegetables and drink water. Because of his faith and persistence, Daniel moved on to the next round.

What kind of diet is God revealing to you? Are you adjusting your spiritual diet to fit His desires for your life? Or, are you adjusting your spiritual diet to fit the world? Is your focus on what God wants from you, or are you following the things of this world?