Desperation

Are you desperate for God? If you are, what fuels your desperation? Is it your present circumstance, or a constant overwhelming need for the presence of your Creator? We sing a worship song that includes the line "Lord, I'm desperate for you." When I really reflect on the idea of being desperate for God, I realize that it is usually when my back is against a wall, facing a situation beyond my control, that I really recognize my desperate need for God. The truth is, however, that we desperately need Him all the time, not just in challenging circumstances or difficult times. May I recognize my desperate need for His abiding presence in my life on a daily basis, and passionately seek after Him, even when there are no stormclouds overhead. I can be sure that the storm will come, and when it does I will realize, that I am already safe within His grasp. "One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock." Psalm 27:4-5 NIV

Impossible Is Nothing

Have you ever tried to move a mountain with a sandpail and a plastic shovel? It's not very effective. That's what it feels like when I try to accomplish something that only God can do. God is in the mountain moving business. I am not. When I am staring down a mountain that needs to be moved, all He asks from me is that I have faith the size of a mustard seed. He is equipped to do that which is impossible for me to accomplish is my own puny strength. For God "impossible is nothing." In the aftermath of the miracle all I can say is, 'wow, God you always amaze me at how effortlessly it seems that you push the mountain aside and open up a clear path before me.' I only wish that I would excercise my faith a little earlier in the process, and learn to trust Him more!

Fresh Fire

When a fire has died down, what typically remains is smoldering embers. When those embers are stirred up, what remains of the fire is revealed. If a fuel source comes into contact with the remaining embers, the fire roars back to life. So it is in our spiritual walk. If we are not tending the spiritual fire of the Holy Spirit within us, the fire dies down. However, when we once again begin to seek God's presence and power, the fire is revived and the power of God is revealed in our lives. Are you in need of some fresh fire? I know that I am. As we begin to fan the flames of God's presence in our lives, the oxygen of the Holy Spirit will provide the fuel to the fire, and we will see God work in a new, fresh and powerful way in our lives.

All is Well - Part II

God is in control........Even when it looks like people around us are controlling circumstances that affect us. God is in control.......Even when things appear to be spinning out of control. As a kid, one of my favorite rides at Disneyland was the Autorama. You get to sit in a car and actually control the steering wheel. It is an exhilerating feeling as a young child, to think that you are contolling the direction of the vehicle. In reality, the steering wheel only makes you feel that you are in control because you can move the car, but only a couple of inches right or left. The cars are on a track, and it is the track that controls the overall trajectory of the car. There is very little the "driver" can do to deviate from the prescribed direction. Yes, others can change things here or there by their actions, but God has the ability to keeps things on track, even when someone (human) thinks that they are in control.

All is Well

God is in control..........Do we really believe it? Typically as humans we want everthing to work out well in our lives. But sometimes we mess things up. All the while God is silently working His plan. His plan always works, in spite of our human frailties. He even uses human mistakes, and weaves them along with their consequences, into His plan. God turns something that could have been bad, into something good. When we put our lives and all we do into His hands, we can rest assured that He is in control. I was listening to a song by Robin Mark this past week entitled "All Is Well." I was struck by the power and truth of the words. One line in the song says....'I know not all His plans, but I know I'm in His hands'...'All is well with my soul'....'He is God in control." I think of Jesus asleep in the back of the boat as He and the disciples crossed the Sea of Galilee. A strong storm came upon them suddendly and violently rocked the boat. The disciples thought they were going to capsize. Jesus wasn't worried. He is God in Control. When they frantically woke him, he said, "Why can't you trust me?" (Luke 8:25 MSG) Who do you trust more? God, and his plan?, or your own ability to control the circumstances of life?

Soul Food

God is talking......Are you listening? The question isn't whether God has something to say to us, but whether we are ready and willing to listen. He implores us in Isaiah 55:2,3 "Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear, and come to me; hear me that your soul may live." We desperately need the life-giving words the Lord desires to share with us. Occasionally my wife will be talking to me, when I am engrossed in reading the newspaper or watching TV news. I kind of hear her, and I respond as if I am really listening. Yeah, uh-huh, and so on, well you get the picture. Once recently, she stopped in the middle of this kind of dialogue and said, Did you even hear what I said? I, uh, well, no not really. I am working on this :) Do I want to hear what my wife has to say? The answer is a resounding yes! She is my best friend and the love of my life. The problem is, I get distracted by other things that clamor for my attention. I think at times we "listen" to Jesus with a similar lack of attentiveness. What God says to us is food for the soul. He speaks in a variety of ways: Through the reading of Scripture; Meditating on His Word; During prayer, which should be a two-way conversation; and with a gentle voice of His Holy Spirit, speaking silently into your spirit. Are you taking the time as a regular part of your routine, to set aside the busyness of life, and numerous distractions, to simply listen to God?

Zoom Lens

The zoom lens on my camera lets me view things up close and personal. To get a closer perspective to the object in the photograph I am about to take. What I have discovered is that in order to see a larger image, I have to settle for less background information. Ultimately, which is more important? A closer view, or more background information? The answer, of course, depends upon the purpose of the photo. When my wife and I were visiting Washington D.C. this summer, I would have to make a choice between taking a photo of my wife, with the Washington Monument in the background, or taking a picture of the Washington Monument, with my wife standing in front of it. There really is a difference between the two. My solution was to take two different pictures, with two different perspectives. In life, we often get so focused on a situation we face, or a decision we have to make, that we temporarily leave out the background information. I have found that it is often helpful to zoom out for a while and look at the bigger picture. The context of the situation is much clearer when we look through a wider lens. Context is critical to perspective. Perspective is especially important when we are making a decision that will have an impact on others.