Feliz Nochebuena (Happy Christmas Eve)!

Hey, Y'all,

Well, once again it's Christmas Eve ("Nochebuena" for those of you who speak the language of heaven :-) --- and yeah, I must be getting old, 'cause I'm starting to sound like the "old folk" who say it seems like just a couple of months ago it was last Christmas :-) . Today's RST is at once simple and profound--I was reminded of this again in church yesterday. It's found in Matthew 1:21-23:

...And she will have a son,
and you are to name Him Jesus,
for He will save His people from their sins.

All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message
through his prophet (Isaiah):

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son,
and they will call Him 'Immanuel,'
which means ‘God with us.’”

Just a couple of quick thoughts...first, how cool is it that the angel, at the Father's behest, delivers this message to Joseph, that the baby's name was to be Jesus because He will save His people from their sins. That's us--not some annoyance that He feels obligated to deal with because He's God and He said He would: He has always loved us fiercely and wanted nothing but our best, and He has always called us "His people"--a seamless thought running throughout history (check out Zechariah 2:7-9: "He has honored me and has sent me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of His eye..." and Psalm 100: "It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture."

And the second thought is really just a continuation of the first: "they will call Him Immanuel...God with us." How mind-boggling is that?!? God with us. Not far off somewhere grousing about what a pain this planet and these people have been and how He has to come set things right. Nope. Immanuel: God with us. Always. So Feliz Nochebuena...a very "good night" it was indeed, for all of us.

You've been prayed for today...

How Silently The Wondrous Gift Was Given

Hey, Y'all,

Hope the Christmas craziness hasn't overwhelmed you completely--I've seen some of that this week and it's not pretty! Here's a little antidote (not sure but I think it's also based on a recent PurposeDrivenLife.com post)...

A couple of millennia ago, in the little town of Bethlehem, the most important birth in all of human history took place. It was a sparsely attended affair--some bleating farm animals and a handful of shepherds who wouldn't have known to be there had not the sky lit up with a multitude of heavenly hosts only minutes before, praising God and inviting the shepherds to the stable (what an invitation, huh?!?). But with the exception of that outburst, however, no one else knew. Oh yes, there were some astrologers from the East who figured out what was going on by studying the stars and some ancient manuscripts, but they didn't make it to town until at least a year or two later when the baby Jesus was a child.

Have you ever wondered--why such an uneventful welcome for such an auspicious event?

It's God's way. He's always been quiet about His work on earth. Like the carol says, "How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift was given; So God imparts to human hearts, the blessings of His heaven." He's even pretty quiet about the way He works in our lives. Interesting, huh? Silently, He came into the world; silently, He comes into our hearts. No fanfare. No marching bands. God has never been into self-promotion. He simply lets His work speak for itself.

And that, by he way, would be you and me. Believers are the result of Christ's coming. It is all about "good news and glad tidings for all people." A Savior has been born and He has been born for us. Or as the angel announced it: "The Savior -- yes, the Messiah, the Lord -- has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David!" (Luke 2:11)

There was no room for the Son of God when He came the first time, but let's keep an eye out for Him this Christmas--and remember, He's not likely to be loud and clamoring for or attention--so let's make sure there's room for Him in our hearts this Christmas!

You've been prayed for today...

Wise Men

Hey, Y'all,

Today's RST is based on a thought by PurposeDrivenLife.com's John Fischer...

I normally don’t like bumper stickers, especially with Christian slogans, because they so often seem to trivialize the message; but one exception stands out. It usually shows up around Christmastime, and it is the simple but profound assertion:
"WISE MEN STILL SEEK HIM."

It's amazing to think that those who seek God are given the benefit of the doubt, that if they seek Him, they will find Him. This is more than just wishful thinking, it's actually a promise in Scripture: “He rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6), and Jeremiah 29:13 "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." How cool is that? So here again, if you're feeling a little brave today, pray this prayer with me: 'Father, teach me, help me learn what this 'seeking you' is all about--especially the part about "earnestly" and "with all my heart." I need you in my life--in fact, I need you in charge of my life. Amen.'

You've been prayed for today...

3rd Step Prayer

Hey, Y'all,

Passing on a prayer sent to me by a friend--and yes, as some of you have probably surmised, it's found in the Big Book (Alcoholics Anonymous)--a very cool thought...


3rd Step Prayer

God, I offer myself to thee,
to build with me and do with me as thou wilt.

Relieve me of the bondage of self,
that I may better do thy will.

Take away my difficulties,
that victory over them may bear witness
to those I would help
of thy power, thy love, and thy way of life.

May I do thy will always.

Amen, and amen.


You've been prayed for today...

Reply to "Odd Spiritual Equation"

Hey, Y'all,

Just heard from a good friend who's been away for a while--serving aboard a Navy ship (welcome back!) and his reply to the last one is today's RST...

"Interesting. Too often I find myself comfortable, as I am right now. I find myself depending on my own strength, maybe because it's just too difficult to trust in His (right now). Lately I've been feeling like following Him is too difficult in my current situation, and I've conformed to the elements around me. It hasn't made me a different person altogether, but it's rehashed some of my old habits. For example, I went about 6 months without cussing. That was, to me, my biggest challenge at the time. I realize now that it was only part of the entirety of my sin, a part of sin that I could teach myself to control while turning a blind eye to all the other sin I committed. I see now that sin is a structural part of being human, and while Jesus died so that we may be saved, we are still sinners. Our strength, I believe, is in finding forgiveness in relationship with Him and knowing that 'while we were yet sinners...Christ died for us.' I still struggle, I condemn myself for the sins that I commit even knowing that I once had control. I look to Christ for forgiveness, and every day I find it. How does He keep you on your toes?"

Thanks, brother...a lot of what we read last RST (and this one) hits home...

Comfort equals confusion. Calamity equals clarity.

Being comfortable can cloud the picture of what God is doing. A comfortable place often makes me lazy spiritually. I find myself praying less, seeking God less, and often finding it hard to recognize the voice of God in my life.

In this culture of relative affluence, we keep trying to seek more comfort when that may be the worst thing for us...Our "joy" over temporal things competes with our true joy in Christ.

Not that I wish calamity on you or me, but I think we need to learn to welcome it as an opportunity to grow (read James 1:2-4 and Romans 8:28 again). So, if you're feeling a little brave today (again), pray this little prayer with me (again):

"Lord, if we find calamity upon us, make our faith strong, and if we feel too comfortable, awaken us to distrust the source of our comfort if it is anything other than you."

You've been prayed for today...

Odd Spiritual Equation

Hey, Y'all,

Today's RST is based on a devotional written by John Fischer of PurposeDrivenLife.com--I enjoyed it because it's an idea I've been rolling around in my head as well (good to know it's not just me :-) . Here goes...

"Comfort equals confusion. Calamity equals clarity." How’s that for an odd spiritual contradiction? No, it isn’t directly scriptural, but I have found it to be true of how Christ works in our day-to-day experiences.

In my own life, being comfortable can cloud the picture of what God is doing. A comfortable place often makes me lazy spiritually. I find myself praying less, seeking God less, and often finding it hard to recognize the voice of God in my life. Comfort takes the edge off, and walking in the Spirit is all about being on the edge, spiritually – being alert to the dangers around me and the temptations that always lurk so close at hand, whether I am aware of them or not. It was while his army was off to war that King David of Israel had the time and the leisure to have an affair with the wife of one of his generals.

And in this culture of relative affluence, we keep trying to seek more comfort when that may be the worst thing for us and something that God may prevent our achieving, at least for now. It’s not because he loves making us uncomfortable, but because he knows what it takes to make us walk by faith. It takes trial, and testing, and pressure for faith to grow in us, and he loves us too much to rob us of this opportunity. That’s why a little chaos usually clears things up. It' is in these moments of pain and pressure that our faith becomes real.

This is why Christians in troubled parts of the world always seem to be more passionate about following Christ. They are surrounded by calamity on every side, and yet their faith remains unshakable. They risk their lives to meet together with other believers. They consider a Bible the greatest treasure they could possess. They hold an immense amount of joy in their hearts in complete contrast to their situation.

On the contrary, when faith is taken for granted, as it is in our society, we often let spiritual things slide, and the result can be confusion about God’s will and our place in it. Our joy over temporal things competes with our joy in Christ. We start to treasure things that we are going to ultimately lose. So we get confused.

Not that I wish calamity on you or me, but I think we need to learn to welcome it as an opportunity to grow (read James 1:2-4 again). And I also think we need to be wary of anything that makes us think we are comfortable. Usually, it’s only short-lived and not something we want to derive comfort from anyway. So, if you're feeling a little brave today, pray this little prayer with me: "Lord, if we find calamity upon us, make our faith strong, and if we feel too comfortable, awaken us to distrust the source of our comfort if it is anything other than you."

Amen to that--you've been prayed for today...

"Come, Let Us Reason Together"

Hey, Y'all,

Been reading an excellent book--stand by for a new set of RSTs on different facets of a complicated and crucial topic: prayer. In the meantime, for those of you who were in church in my neck of the woods, this is going to ring a bell...

“Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”
Isaiah 1:18

How cool is it that God wants to sit with us and talk with us and reason with us and help us understand things?

You've been prayed for today...

"Thank You" Would Be Enough

Hey, Y'all,

Today's RST is based on a quote from Meister Eckhart (who was a 13th century Christian mystic of the Dominican Order):

"If the only prayer you ever truly prayed was 'thank you,' it would be enough."

Hope you're having a phenomenal Thanksgiving--and of course giving thanks for the innumerable things God has provided.

Follow-Up To "Of Goodness And Gardens"

Hey, Y'all,

Just got back from a couple of days at "The Pearl Of The Desert" --- NAF El Centro. Always good to get out of town and catch a quick change of scenery and spend some time in the desert (especially at sunrise and sunset and of course nighttime--you forget how many stars there are). And speaking of stars and nighttime, welcome to the world, Leila Simone Tabuenca .

Today's RSTs are a continuation of the last ones...but first, quick thanks are due to my brother Maximus from whose computer this RST is being broadcast (not to mention the carne asada feast that's fueling it --sweet!). Alright, here we go...

"It is a newly created garden He asks me to cultivate. I do not create it myself...Rather I dress and keep it as His new creation...If we would but keep our eyes on that creation and not on our own selves and our own relative attainments (or lack of them), every day doing the best we can to dress and keep that garden, how glorious would be the expression of divine grace in our lives."

Reminds me of 2 Cor 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" It's not something I do, it's something I receive as a gift from God, from "plugging in" and hanging out with Him and learning from Him and about Him and His Way. Also reminds me of Philippians 2:13, "It is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose," or in another version, "For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him." Sweet--like we read in the book Experiencing God, "It's not about me." It's about Him. His strength, His provision for my needs along The Way, including the desire and the strength to get on and stay on The Way.

One more thought: "And when those weeds of yesterday, those old habit patterns, reappear as I till this new creation--as inevitably they must--they appear as alien weeds I can attack from strength and not in weakness. Gradually they disappear forever, one by one--and I rejoice in their passing." Kind of a cool thought, that as I am more and more "under the influence" of the Holy Spirit, the things in my life that are not consistent with that life, with The Way, clash with my new life, and they are seen for the shallow and superficial and unsatisfying weak substitutes for Truth that they really are, and I don't want them anymore, I crave them less and less. Now THAT's good news.

You've been prayed for today...

On Goodness and Gardens

Hey, Y'all,

Today's RSTs come from a book called "You Can Go Home Again" by Jack Provonsha...kinda got me thinkin', hopefully you too...

“God is gracious by definition. No one can, or ever needs to, merit divine acceptance. The presumption that God requires our goodness in order to respond in kind is a negative and false answer to the question about His essential friendliness.” (pp. 101,102)

“The question is not ‘How good do I have to be?' but ‘How good do I get to be?'" (p. 107)

“It is a newly created garden He asks me to cultivate. I do not create it myself... Rather I dress and keep it as His new creation... And when those weeds of yesterday, those old habit patterns, reappear as I till this new creation--as inevitably they must--they appear as alien weeds I can attack from strength and not in weakness. Gradually they disappear forever, one by one--and I rejoice in their passing.” (p. 109)

“If we would but keep our eyes on that creation and not on our own selves and our own relative attainments (or lack of them), every day doing the best we can to dress and keep that garden, how glorious would be the expression of divine grace in our lives.” (p. 111)

“One thing more about that garden. In Eden, Adam and Eve didn’t make things grow. Plants sprouted as they do now in the light of the sun and in moist, fertile soil. Just so, as we do our best to dress and keep the garden God has created in us, He will provide the nutrients and the water and the sun (Son) to make it grow.” (p. 111)

So, what is this "garden" God creates in us and how do we nurture it and keep it? Think about it for a minute...more tomorrow...but you've been prayed for today.

Belief

Hey, Y'all,

Hope this e-mail finds you well on your way to enjoying a relaxing weekend--a longer one for some of us, don't forget to be sure to thank a Veteran for their service! My mom forwarded this to me today (so today's RST is fresh-made!)(thanks, Mai)--she ran across it in the Sabbath school lesson study for this week, interestingly enough). It goes like this:

Scientist Ben Clausen points out that human beings want certainty, but uncertainty is an inescapable part of life...In "The Book of Beginnings" that Clausen co-authored with Gerald Wheeler he shares this quote from [Spanish writer and philosopher] Miguel de Unamuno: "Those who believe that they believe in God, but without passion in their hearts, without anguish in their minds, without uncertainty, without doubt, and even at times without an element of despair, believe only in the idea of God, and not in God Himself."

Now THAT's an RST. Reminds me of a couple of conversations I had today--one said in essence that extraordinary accomplishments require extraordinary effort, but first they require extraordinary leaps of faith, all of which entails commitment and sacrifice and uncertainty...but that's just the way it is: there are no shortcuts, there are no other ways to accomplish great things. The other conversation was much more banal but fleshes out this idea on another level: a buddy told me at the gym earlier today when I tweaked my vastus medialis --- yeah, I said vastus medialis, look it up :-) --- that "that's a good thing, 'cause if you don't tweak something once in a while then you're not really trying." We seem to be able to grasp this about other aspects of life; why do we expect our walk, our attempt at relationship with an omnipotent and omniscient and omni-everything God to be straightforward or easy or even comprehensible?!?

So don't sweat it, keep on keepin' on, 'cause if it's hard then you're doing it right (and remember: if you're not tweakin' something once in a while, then you're not really trying).

You've been prayed for today...

AudioRST--"Morning Thought (Search Me)"

Hey, Y'all,

I was playing this song earlier this (crazy busy) week, rolling it over in my head and basically meditating on it--it's based on Psalm 139, a remarkable passage (these are verses 23,24):

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Test me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.

Lots to chew on and mull over--more on that later--but today it's the mere idea that He's interested enough in me and my mental state to sit and talk it over that I find mind-blowing. On the one hand, an incredibly vast and powerful God; on the other, an incredibly personable being who wants peace and joy for me. How cool is that?!? I also love David's request that His Lord lead him in the way everlasting...the implication of course being that that way of peace and joy everlasting is not one he can find nor follow consistently on his own...but I'm sure it's just David (and me), right?

You've been prayed for today...

"Carry Each Other's Burdens"

Hey, Y'all,

Happy Monday! (ahhhh, yes, irony ). Hope it wasn't all that bad. Today's RST is short and sweet and, as appears to be becoming our custom, gets us to look at a not always easy aspect of following Christ's example. (Hmmm...Yoda-esque was that sentence structure). Here it is:

"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
Galatians 6:2

"In this way you fulfill the law of Christ." Hmmm...nothing about [insert preconceived notion about fulfilling the law here].

You've been prayed for today...

Spurgeon On Prayer

Hey, Y'all,

How glad am I to see the end of this week and the arrival of Sabbath (and the weekend in general)? Crazy busy, and next week looks about the same, but makes no difference tonight; already I'm blessed...

Ran across this quote a couple of days ago (interesting timing given the fact that I'm reading a new book of Philip Yancey's on prayer--in fact, cryptically enough it's called "Prayer" and is subtitled "Does It Make Any Difference?"). Anyway, been ruminating on it off and on ever since--it's very true in my life and I'm going to go way out on a limb here and say it's the same in yours:

"He who lives without prayer, he who lives with little prayer, he who seldom reads the Word, he who seldom looks up to heaven for a fresh influence from on high---he will be the man whose heart will become dry and barren."
-Charles Spurgeon

God's blessing be upon you all (thanks for that one, Chaplain Smith).

You've been prayed for today...

"Choose" (continuation of "Joyful, Patient, and Faithful")

That last RST had us thinking about decisions, choices, forks in the road--reminded me of Moses' farewell discourse to the people he'd led out of Egypt, his people...his bickering, stubborn, forgetful, short-sighted, and all around dysfunctional family, loved ones in all their wacked-out splendor. It's kind of touching to hear him alternately pleading with them, forewarning them, blessing them, as he hands them back to his (and their Father) and on to Joshua, the XO. Here's some of what he had to say (to them and to us) in the last few chapters of Deuteronomy...

"...I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. For the LORD is your life..."
Deuteronomy 30:19,20

"When Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel, he said to them, 'Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may teach your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.'"
Deuteronomy 32:45-47

Reminiscent of Joshua's own farewell exhortation just before his death...

"...Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
Joshua 24:15

Love the symmetry and harmony of the Old and New Testaments--"choose God's Way; choose life," say Moses and Joshua (among a host of others). In Matthew 6 (among a host of other places) we hear "chase after material things and other temporary distractions and find yourself exhausted and still empty-handed in the end; pursue Him, seek to know and understand His Way of Really Living, and find yourself at peace, your needs met, and your eternal destiny secured."

You've been prayed for today...and BTW, you and I have been on God's mind for a very, very long time...how cool is that?

"Joyful, Patient, and Faithful"

Here's today's Random Spiritual Thought...

A young man laments his difficult fate:
''I wish none of this had happened.''

A wise old man answers, ''So do all who live to see such times. But that is not for us to decide. All that is ours to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.''

Brings to mind Romans 12, especially verses 12 and 21: "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer...Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

More on this tomorrow...but you've been prayed for today.

Parting Thoughts On "So How Do YOU Get To Shore?"

Hey, Y'all,

Hope you're having a good weekend. Here's today's RST which is from Kathy (revisiting her RST from last week).

OK, so I looked it over again in a really good translation (Revised English Bible) and also in the Greek. The only other thing I would add is from verse 20, where Jesus speaks to those in the boat. The sentence is usually translated, "It is I; do not be afraid." The part "It is I," though, is actually the phrase "I am" in Greek. Of course, this is THE name for God in the Old Testament (how cool is that?). So, Jesus is not only declaring who He is; He is declaring His own divinity. Do the disciples fully understand? I don't know--there was a lot going on at the time. But the writer of the book tells us that they did take Jesus into the boat, and immediately the boat arrived at the other shore. [Ed.: They acted on what belief they had--memo to self--"I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24)].

I also really liked verses 28 and 29 of John 6. "So they asked him, 'What can we do in order to do what God wants us to do?' Jesus answered, 'What God wants you to do is to believe in The One he sent.'" The next time I ask one of you, "How do I know what God wants me to do?" remind me of these verses.

Yeah, you and me both on that last bit, Kathy -- but I'm sure it's just us :-) . Reminded me of that old chorus we used to sing when we were kids (that is actually taken from Micah 6:8)--sometimes we get lost in the "doing" and forget what our heavenly Father--operative word being Father--wants from us:

He has shown you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

Not that complicated, and yet not that simple...gotta love that.

You've been prayed for today...

What's (Your) Christianity About?

Hey, Y'all,

Today's RST was mentioned by Cathy a few days ago--thanks for the reminder of what Christ was and is about (and what Christ-ians ought to be about):

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
for the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
and to proclaim that captives will be released
and prisoners will be freed.
He has sent me to tell those who mourn
that the time of the Lord's favor has come,
and with it, the day of God's anger against their enemies.
To all who mourn in Israel,
he will give a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
that the Lord has planted for his own glory."

You've been prayed for today...

First Reply to "So How Do YOU Get To Shore?"

Hey, Ya'll,

You know, for a "short" week this sure has been a busy one--that seems to always be the case I guess. Well, it's almost the weekend, right? Right. Today's RST is from Ronnie and it's a reply to the last one:

"That last RST got me thinking about something we touched on in our last Men's Group meeting (and previously). For me anyway, it's not so much whether we allow Jesus to come on board our boat as it is how much we actually--moment by moment--allow him to take command of our boat. How do we do that? It's one thing to make that instantaneous decision to turn over the wheel, especially after life has left us holding yet another bag and we realize after the fact that we probably weren't certified to navigate that narrow creek without a paddle to begin with! But it's a whole different thing to continue relinquishing the helm to the all-certified, all-qualified master commodore while out in the wide open waters of life where things are most tempting to relieve our ever-faithful Officer of the Watch.

"It reminded me of our family memory verse of the week: 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.' (Prov 3:5,6). You'll note that he didn't say some of your heart or a portion of your ways, no... with ALL your heart and in ALL your ways. So what's the deal? Why do we continually insist on telling God, 'It's okay, I got this one!'"

Thanks, Ronnie...that reminded me of another proverb that seems to grab me and tell me that precisely just when I'm starting to get confident in my ability to see straight on my own I ought to slow down and check my connection to The (only) One with the real "big picture" perspective on my life (and everything else, I might add). In fact, it must not just be me because it shows up twice in the book of Proverbs--14:12 and 16:25. It says "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." Not exactly sugarcoated, but I must be getting old 'cause I'm seeing the wisdom of those words. Think about it--it doesn't say that the way I might go on my own is obviously hazardous or foolish--it says it seems right--but it still winds up poorly, though. Contrast that with "He will make my paths straight" if I acknowledge Him in all my ways rather than leaning solely on (snicker, snort, LOL) my own understanding.
But yeah, I'm sure it's just me .

You've been prayed for today...

So How Do You Get To Shore?

Hey, Y'all,

Today's RST is from "the archives"--sermon notes that Kathy had shared with me from several years ago. Talking with several of you over the weekend and understanding the situations some of you find yourselves in reminded me of these notes...

"The sermon last Sabbath started off with a passage from John 6---verses 16-24 actually. We all think we have heard this story and know exactly how it goes--it's about Jesus walking on the water. But John tells a completely different story than the other gospel writers (different occurence? Read it for yourself--it's short but powerful). After a long day of minstry the disciples got in a boat and headed to Capernaum. Jesus stayed behind (He had gone up into the hills by Himself to pray and "recharge"). The disciples got caught in a storm and couldn't get anywhere. Suddenly, Jesus appeared, walking toward them. He told them not to be afraid, and after hesitating they let Him into the boat. As soon as He stepped into the boat, they reached shore. So, the Pastor asks: 'How to you get to the shore?' Answer: 'Jesus steps into your boat.'"

Hmmm...so, let's see, you're in it, deep in it, and flailing a bit...how do you get out of that and to safe harbor? Flail harder? Do some penance? Curse the storm? Nope...you let Him into the boat with you. Why did the disciples hesitate to do so? Why do we? Why do we tend to avoid the actual solution to our dissatisfaction and instead try to substitute "stuff" to distract us?

Thanks, Kathy, that's pretty cool. You've each been prayed for today...

God With Us (Sanctuary)

Hey, Y'all,

I ran across this while reading an explanation of the fascinating symbolism in the many components of the original sanctuary that God instructed the Israelites to build when they left Egypt for the promised land (it's really cool--check it out sometime). This essay, however, caught my eye; here're some thoughts on a name of Christ's that we usually only hear at Christmastime: Emmanuel --- which means "God with us." Sorry, I couldn't find out who to attribute it to, but nonetheless, it's a good read, and remember: only 80 more shopping days 'til Christmas!

"Emmanuel. It reminds us that we need not travel to some distant place, enjoy some special experience, accomplish some great deed, display some unusual talent, or create some huge fortune to see God at work in our lives. All we have to do is look around and notice that no matter what occurs there is a power, even in common everyday things, that helps make things better. Dogs' tails wag, broken bones mend, crops grow, people love, ducks quack, babies smile!

"All things that happen are not God's will--that would be bad news. The sanctuary 'truth,' however, is good news. It says that in the middle of each moment in every life God--by His mere presence there--promotes much joy and health: spiritual, mental, and physical.

"'Have them make me a sanctuary,' the Lord declares in the first part of scripture, 'so that I may dwell among them' (Exodus 25:8) At scripture's dramatic center, we read that in Jesus 'the Word became flesh and lived (literally "sanctuaried") among us' (John 1:14). And the last book of scripture anticipates a time when 'a loud voice from the throne' will proclaim, 'see, the home (sanctuary) of God is among mortals. He will dwell (sanctuary) with them, they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them' (Revelation 21:3). At the beginning and end of scripture, and at every point in between, the sanctuary truth is the same: Emmanuel --- God is with us. Hallelujah!"

Amen to that...God with us...

You've been prayed for today...

Trust AND Obey

Hey, Y'all,

Ran across this quote from Ellen White's book Patriarchs and Prophets--think about it for a bit and we'll get back to it tomorrow...

"God will do great things for those who trust in Him. The reason why His professed people have no greater strength is that they trust so much to their own wisdom, and do not give the Lord an opportunity to reveal His power in their behalf. He will help His believing children in every emergency if they will place their entire confidence in Him and faithfully obey Him." (page 493)

You've been prayed for today...

Fix Our Steps, O Lord

Hey, Y'all,

Today's RST was actually sent my way years ago by my Tia Judy and periodically I run across it--thought I'd share it (it's from John Weston's "To Will One Thing"):

Fix thou our steps, O Lord,
that we stagger not
at the uneven motions of the world,
but go steadily on our way,
neither censuring our journey
by the weather we meet,
nor turning aside for anything that befalls us.

Amen...you've been prayed for today...

Trees and Grass

Hey, Y'all,

Ran across this quote a while back on BlueMarble.com 's homepage...

"Knowing trees I understand the meaning of patience.
Knowing grass I understand the meaning of persistence."
Hal Borland

Got me thinking...reminded me of a quote from Ellen White's book Education (p. 99) which says: "Upon all created things is seen the impression of Deity. Nature itself testifies of God...A mysterious life pervades all nature--a life that sustains the unnumbered worlds throughout immensity..."

Cool...You've been prayed for today...

RSTs -- Purpose?

Hey, Y'all,

It's been a while since we revisited our reason for being--I know there're several new folks who've come aboard recently. So what's the purpose of these Random Spiritual Thoughts?

Most days they're just quick reminders that there's more to life than what Madison Avenue (or the vast majority of society for that matter) says there is; that that vague sense of dissatisfaction, that feeling that there's something missing or incomplete, and that things should be better, that sense that things are not as they ought to be...it's for real.

It's an interesting quandary we post-modern people find ourselves in--we know we're being marketed to constantly, we understand that most of what we see and hear is at best a spin- or sales-job, and yet there remains this inexplicable deep yearning to believe that there's more...that's what RSTs are supposed to remind you of.

Yeah, most days they're of the warm and fuzzy, reassuring variety, nothing wrong with that...unless I do you the disservice of not pointing out that God wants much more for you than just that sense of "I'm OK"---which can easily morph into "I'm OK where I am so I think I'll just stay [stagnate] here." He wants you to open your eyes and see that there's much more than just getting by, He wants you to grow, to flourish, and to become a better human being, more mature and patient and kind (see Galatians 5:22&23 for the specifics)--that's the proof that there's a God and that He's a life-changing and powerful and benevolent God.

So it's true, He accepts us and loves us profoundly, wherever we are and whatever state we're in (check out the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32 for more details). BUT...it's equally true that He loves us entirely too much to leave us where He found us. He did accept both the woman caught in adultery ("I don't condemn you") and the paralytic at the pool of Bethesda ("Do you want to be healed?") exactly as they were, but it's also interesting to note that He told them to move onward and upward from that point and to not keep spinning their wheels (to the woman, "now leave your life of sin," and to the paralytic, "get up, pick up your mat, and walk" --- and interestingly He meets the paralytic again later and tells him directly to change his life and "sin no more"---the complete stories are found in John 8:3-11 and John 5:1-15).

So there you have it: why RSTs? 'Cause there's more, much more, for us, but we tend to forget...So whenever I run across something that reminds me of that fact, I pass it on. But remember, God isn't just about getting you to feel better about yourself--He's about you growing and actually being a better person, more like what we were created to be: reflections of Him--literally "created in His image."

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God.
May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.
Psalm 143:10

You've been prayed for today...

Yancey Quote Response -- God Is God: Is He Lord?

Hey, Y'all,

Network issues here at home kept me from getting this out the last couple of days, hope you had a restful weekend. Today's RST is the first of a two-part follow-up to the recent Yancey quote--thanks Dave D for this thought-provoking tidbit: "I have heard it said that 'If He isn't the LORD of your all, then He isn't LORD at all.'"

Hmmm...that's no joke there. Here are some things that came to mind...

Is there some aspect of my life, some thing, which I am unwilling to relinquish control of? Or relinquish in general?

Check out 'The Lord's Prayer' (Matthew 6 and Luke 11): why would Christ include that bit about "your will be done" in the "how-to handbook" for prayer?

Why are the first two commandments (Exodus 20) "Do not worship any other gods besides me" and "Do not make idols of any kind?" Are there "idols" in my life? Are there things I put above or before God? What has highest priority for me? Is something (or someone) else on the throne of my life, of my heart, of my mind?

Interesting questions--I'm thinking about 'em, how 'bout you?

You've been prayed for today...

"Your Trust In Me Has Made You Whole"

Hey, Y'all,

Today's RST is a response from Bud (thanks!) to the recent "God Is God" quote of Yancey's:

The only way in which God could reveal the truth about Himself was to come in the personage of Jesus Christ. That is to say the only way He could set and keep us right was to reveal the truth about Himself. And what a beautiful revelation that was! One way it was made manifest was by His healing/saving of the sick. Throughout His ministry Jesus would state, "Thy faith hath made thee whole." The Greek for faith is "pistis." Dr. Maxwell states pistis can also be translated "trust." So whenever one reads "your faith" one could read "your trust" has made you whole. Trust God to heal the damage sin does, while asking for a heart transplant [I really like that!]. One who has been thus healed and possesses a new heart will also possess newly fine-tuned hearing: a willingness to listen, because in the earth made new, we'll have the opportunity to hear the truth presented and demonstrated more clearly than ever before.

Reminded me of a few passages:

Psalm 20:7---"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God."

Jeremiah 29:11-13---"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. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

Also sounds like Matthew 7:7-11---"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"

"Trust God to heal the damage sin does, while asking for a heart transplant"--really enjoyed that one. So there it is--trust is the key. But think about it for a second: some people you would trust with your life; how much do you trust someone you don't know?

You've been prayed for today...

God's Fridge

Hey Y'all,

Hope you're having a relaxing weekend (though I know some of you are plugging away in board review classes and other academic endeavors--hang in there! This too shall pass!). Even though it was a (technically) short week because of Labor Day, it sure seemed to drag along and be surprisingly busy (but that was probably just me, right? ).

So, back to RST business: we'll be revisiting the recent Yancey RSTs momentarily--got some good responses and thoughts to pass on--but first we'll revisit the last one. It was actually found in Zephaniah 3:14-17 (not 16 as I inadvertently noted), and the punchline for me was in fact verse 17--take a minute, read it again below, and let it kind of settle on your mind, and picture it--especially the last 3 lines:

"The LORD your God is with you.
He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with his love,
He will rejoice over you with singing."

Struck me as an amazing picture of God (especially while watching friends and family becoming new--or now relatively new--parents) as our loving Father, actually delighting in us, in our growth and development as people and as His children--the baby steps as well as our "big" achievements; then, when we need it, soothing our hurts and quieting our doubts with His loving thoughts expressed via His word and the Holy Spirit's impressions; and most interestingly for me 'cause I'd never thought of Him this way: above it all, He rejoices over us with singing--looking over us all, watching our lives unfold day by day, inching closer to that day when He'll come back and make all things new, and here's the part that gets me: that we little creations of His bring Him such joy that He has to hum a tune--and maybe even on occasion belt out a song--while He sticks our little projects on His refrigerator. Who knew?

You've been prayed for today...

Sing and Shout! (God Is Good)

Today's (truly) Random Spiritual Thought is found in Zephaniah 3:14-16--I don't know why it resonated with me today but for some reason I really feel like I understand it better today...and you know what?
God is good.

Sing, O Daughter of Zion;
shout aloud, O Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
O Daughter of Jerusalem!

The LORD has taken away your punishment,
He has turned back your enemy.
The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you;
never again will you fear any harm.

On that day they will say to Jerusalem,
"Do not fear, O Zion;
do not let your hands hang limp.

The LORD your God is with you,
He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with his love,
He will rejoice over you with singing."

You've been prayed for today...

Yancey Quote 2 -- God Is God: Me? Not So Much

Hey, Y'all,

Hope you're having a rejuvenating weekend. Back to our second quote of Yancey's--he said that he'd realized while pursuing his hobby of hiking that "God is God, and we are not." The first passage that came to mind was God's reply to Job (at the end of the book of Job--chapters 38-42 basically, but they can be summarized by verses 4-6 of chapter 38). God sat quietly and allowed Job and His friends and wife have their say, and then when they'd said what they had on their mind, God finally replied:

"Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?
Tell me, if you understand.
Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?
On what were its footings set,
or who laid its cornerstone?..."

We run the risk of taking God out of context and picking and choosing characteristics of His to emphasize while minimizing others; we humanize Him, which is good to a certain extent, but then we forget that He is omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, and Holy, wholly committed to the life and death struggle against sin and its effects (and its proponents as well).

We extol His grace and love while often forgetting that very love and grace call us to a better life, to grow into His Way, and that that Way is often at odds with what the prevailing culture around us says is "good" and "right."

So yeah, it's true, "God is God"--but is He my God? He's my savior, but is He the Lord of my life? Does He rule there, or do I have someone or something else on the throne of my life? Am I growing into His way, or am I headed down the way of my choosing?

More on this soon...but today, you've been prayed for...

Yancey Quote 1 -- God's Already Here: is He Visible?

Hey, Y'all,

Here're a couple of RSTs that one of you sent my way after hearing Philip Yancey speak...kind of cool, gets you thinking about your place in the world...

He said a couple of things that stuck in my mind: "God is already here. It's our job to make Him visible." He also commented that one thing he learned while pursuing his hobby of hiking was that "God is God, and we are not."

The first quote brings a lot of texts to mind of course but the first one is Matthew 25:34-40 which says:

"Then the King will say to those on the right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.' Then these righteous ones will reply, `Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?' And the King will tell them, `I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'"

And of course right behind it was Galatians 5:22, 23:

"But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." This list of characteristics stands in sharp contrast to verses 19-21 which describe the life without God's steadying and bettering influence: "When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, excessive eagerness for pleasure, idolatry [putting other things first before your relationship with God], participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, division, discord, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and many other kinds of sin."

So there it is--"God is already here. It's our job to make Him visible." How's that going for you?


You've been prayed for today...

(Tomorrow we'll talk about the second quote).

Like Little Children / Heaven Is Here

Today's RST is based on a quote from Max Lucado's "And The Angels Were Silent"...

"Oh, for the attitude of a five-year-old! That simple uncluttered passion for living that can't wait for tomorrow. A philosophy of life that reads, 'Play hard, laugh hard, and leave the worries to your Father.' A bottomless well of optimism flooded by a perpetual spring of faith that washes over the light and temporary scrapes and bumps. Is it any wonder Jesus said we must have the heart of a child before we can enter the kingdom of heaven? [Jesus said] "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3"

The phrase "the kingdom of heaven" reminded me of a quote of Ellen White's (from her book "The Desire Of Ages") that states that heaven isn't merely some far-off abstract concept but a tangible, practical, very real benefit that we can have right here and right now as a result of choosing His Way over our own.

"Those who take Christ at His word, and surrender their souls to His keeping, their lives to His ordering, will find peace and quietude. Nothing of the world can make them sad when Jesus makes them glad by His presence. In perfect acquiescence there is perfect rest. The Lord says, 'Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.' Isa. 26:3. Our lives may seem a tangle; but as we commit ourselves to the wise Master Worker, He will bring out the pattern of life and character that will be to His own glory...As through Jesus we enter into rest, heaven begins here. We respond to His invitation, 'Come, learn of me,' and in thus coming we begin the life eternal."

You've been prayed for today...

A Time For Everything

Today's RST is a passage I hadn't thought about in a long time but had written down to get back to later--so here it is...from Ecclesiastes 3:

A Time for Everything

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

He has made everything beautiful in its time.

Love that...read it again and think about it, think about your life...

I also love the subsequent couple of verses...

He has also set eternity in the hearts of men;
yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
I know that there is nothing better for men
than to be happy and do good while they live.

So that's the plan according to Solomon...be happy and do good while you live. Sounds simple, but think about that for a second...think about what it takes to be truly happy and content and at peace, and think about what you actually think and do...

You've been prayed for today...

Audio RST -- Psalm 116

So I was on my way to work this morning at "o-dark-thirty," slowly waking up, listening to some mellow gospel music, and I heard this song--funny how early in the AM I seem to hear things a little differently than I do later in the day...and interestingly enough the first couple of verses of Psalm 116 were the verse of the day at BibleGateway.com. So here's the song (e-mailed it--sorry, can't post it here), and here's the Psalm--I hope they bless you as they did me today...

Psalm 116 (excerpts)

I love the LORD, for He heard my voice;
He heard my cry for mercy.
Because He turned his ear to me,
I will call on Him as long as I live.

The LORD is gracious and righteous;
our God is full of compassion.
The LORD protects the simplehearted;
when I was in great need, He saved me.
Be at rest once more, O my soul,
for the LORD has been good to you.

How can I repay the LORD
for all His goodness to me?
O LORD, truly I am your servant;
you have freed me from my chains.

You've been prayed for today...

Gridiron Wisdom

Hey, Y'all,

Hope you had a restful and enjoyable weekend. Today's RST is interesting--wisdom from the gridiron (it's not every day I run across an RST in the sports section):

"Fullback Roosevelt Leaks, who faced considerable obstacles in becoming the first black All-American football player at Texas, said 'We all travel different roads. Whether yours is a "tougher" road or not, there are always obstacles on the road. You just have to keep moving forward,' he said. 'The things that at first deter you, they usually make you better.'"

Of course that quote brings to mind Romans 8:28 which we discussed previously, but it also reminded me of John 16:33--"I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." Interesting that Christ says outright that in this world we will have troubles, but He also says that He wants us to have peace and take heart because He has overcome that same world (which of course reminds us of the also previously mentioned John 14:27--"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid").

So there you have it--God's desire for us (and His promise to us if we access the blessings offered) is a peaceful (peace-full) and untroubled heart, regardless of obstacles and bumps in the road. So...sweet! That sounds like a plan--thanks, Father.

You've been prayed for today...

Memories and Altars

Hey, Y'all,

Back to our string on memory and our "shape" and God's hand in our design...this thought is based on an essay called "Making Memories Count: Finding God's Purposes In Remembering" by Katie Brazelton and Dee Eastman (on PurposeDrivenLife.com this past July 14). Reminded me of a quote of Ellen White's: "We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history" (LS 196).

"Try to see God's purpose in giving you a memory. God shows us repeatedly that one of the main values of memory is for us to 'remember Him.' In the Old Testament when Joshua was trying to cross the Jordan River with the children of Israel, God demonstrated his mighty power by parting the water, allowing them to pass through the river completely on dry land. However, God did not stop there.

"He then asked Joshua to build an altar with stones from the exact spot the river had been parted. The altar served as a symbol to remember the day that God 'showed up.' It worked powerfully among the Israelites and met their deepest need. These 'remembrance stones' were to be displayed forever, as a symbol of God's love, strength, and faithfulness.

"He longs for our memory to serve the same purpose. He wants us to be able to lift our eyes to Him in difficult as well as joyful times. What symbols could you place in your life that would cause your gaze to shift, so you would be reminded of the vastness of God's love for you? Is there an 'altar,' are there 'remembrance stones' in our life, or do you need to build into your daily routine these reminders that will help draw you into his presence?

"Open your heart to the power of past memories. It may sound crazy that God can use sad memories to redeem the hurtful parts of our past, but it is true. In fact, we have found that even in the most painful and gut-wrenching times of our lives, God has ultimately taught us about grace in a way we would have never learned without it.

"In his book 'Telling Secrets' Frederick Buechner writes: 'The sad things that happened long ago will always remain part of who we are. But instead of being a burden of guilt, recrimination, and regret that make us constantly stumble as we go, even the saddest things can become, once we have made peace with them, a source of wisdom and strength for the journey that lies ahead.' The key here is making peace with our past.

"Of course, this takes courage, most often involving the hard work of forgiveness toward ourselves and any who have hurt us. But by doing so, we can move past the past by removing its power to hurt or hinder us and they can truly become 'a source of wisdom and strength for the journey that lies ahead.'" (Love that Buechner quote).


You've been prayed for today...

Laughter In God's Presence

Hey, Y'all,

We'll get back to the previous string on life's experiences and our "shape" next time--today's is an actual Random Spiritual Thought I just ran across (thanks Bud!) and I had to pass it along. Read it carefully, maybe a couple of times and let it sink in:

It is the heart that is not sure of its God that is afraid to laugh in His Presence.
--George MacDonald

Think about your church, the people you know, your own life for that matter: is their God, is your God, distant, or angry? Or is He personable and warm? Does He have a sense of humor? Or is He perpetually annoyed with you and the rest of us?

Brought to mind the shortest verse in the Bible: "Jesus wept." (John 11:35). I've gotta say, I've read and heard innumerable explanations of that text, but I still can't entirely wrap my head around it--I mean I get them all, I hear what they're saying, but He's getting ready to resurrect Lazarus, and as a result it's about to become clear to many of His followers that He's not just a Good Man or a Great Teacher but something much much more...and yet, He wept. Love that. Don't even know why, don't understand why, but I love that Jesus, God, wept. That doesn't sound like some distant and annoyed God who barely tolerates us. It sounds like the kind of God I want to know better and understand better and emulate better. How 'bout you?

(You've been prayed for today, BTW).

Embrace The Past, Your Memories, And Your "Shape"

Hey, Y'all,

Got some interesting responses to the past couple of RSTs--will pass those on in the next few days. Today's thought continues the idea that we have a unique "shape" that is in part a product of our experiences (and it's based on an essay by Rick Warren entitled "Make The Most Of Your Memories"):

We rarely see God's "working for our good" in pain or failure while it is happening. Only in hindsight do we understand how God enabled a problem to "work out for our good" as we are promised in Romans 8. That is why it is important for us to take time to remember our memories.

Some memories, even in hindsight, are painful to deal with. It is easy for us to feel resentful toward people who have caused us pain, or even to question why God would allow us to go through the experience at all. But God knows these things happen to all of us, and--this isn't easy--because of His ability to bring good out of bad situations we should gratefully accept the way He shapes us in these experiences. The Bible says, "What right have you, a human being, to cross-examine God? The pot has no right to say to the potter: 'Why did you make me this shape?' Surely a potter can do what he likes with the clay!" ( Rom. 9:20-21 JB)

Who you are today was sovereignly determined by God, so you shouldn't resent it or reject it. Instead of wishing "things" were different or trying to reshape yourself to be like someone else, you should celebrate the unique "shape" God has given you through your experiences, good and bad. "Christ has given each of us special abilities -- whatever he wants us to have out of his rich storehouse of gifts." (Eph. 4:7 LB)

Forgotten experiences are worthless, however. Moses told the Israelites, "Remember today what you have learned about the Lord through your experiences with him" (Deut. 11:2 TEV). Paul worried that the believers in Galatia would waste the pain they had been through. He said, "Were all your experiences wasted? I hope not!" (Gal. 3:4 NCV). Extracting the lessons from your experiences takes time. Pause to see how God has worked in the various defining moments of your life, the good ones and the bad ones, and consider how he wants you to use those lessons to help others.


Hmmm...that's pretty hard stuff. Believe me when I tell you that I know some of you have gone through dark places that I can only see in my own darkest nightmares, so by no means am I pretending to have the answers. But there's something to this ability of Our Father to do this "God-sized" thing, and that's to support us so thoroughly in the hard times, even the ones that seem too heavy to bear, that when we come through the other side we are permanently changed by His presence there with us. We're wounded to be sure--with a few more gray hairs (or fewer ones of any given shade) and more non-laugh-lines, but we are better, more patient, more mature and tolerant, with better perspective and understanding and empathy for others who are suffering as well.

I'm going to mull that one over a bit more...not 'cause it's easy, but 'cause it's true: God enables our suffering to become bearable and to take on meaning which prevents the bitterness of senseless suffering, and He is thus in fact able to bring good out of bad--not that bad becomes good--it's still painful; it's just not merely meaningless suffering, it becomes what James 1 said it would become--an opportunity to choose to recall the painful memory rather than shun it, to share it with God, and to be transformed (by our profound conversations with Him about our pain) into better people.

You've been prayed for today--have a happy and restful Sabbath.

Churchill and "Shape"

Today's RST comes to us from my mom (thanks, Mai)--and it's a quote of Sir Winston Churchill's she ran across the other day:

"To each there comes in their lifetime a special moment when they are figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a very special thing, unique to them and fitted to their talents.  What a tragedy if that moment finds them unprepared or unqualified for that which could have been their finest hour."

 

Very cool, especially from a man who knew a thing or two about "their finest hour."  (Nerd Alert: for those who unlike me--geek--didn't read every book about WWII they could get their hands on when they were a kid, Google that phrase, and while you're at it, "The Battle of Britain."  Those were the dark early days of WWII when the outcome was still very much in doubt).

 

At any rate, great quote, and interesting idea, that we are each given chances in life to do "special things, unique to us, and fitted to our talents."  How does that happen?  How are we so outfitted?  Think about it for a while--more later.

 

You've been prayed for today...

 

 

 

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You Are Where You Are

Read this quote several weeks ago and it's been rattling around my brain since then...

You are where you are right now, and nothing can change the path you've already traveled. Where you're headed, however, is entirely up to you: the next step is yours to decide.

Reminds me of a passage we've talked about before (and an RST also on the subject--thanks Mai and Facho for reminding me about it).

"'Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, even now it shall spring forth.' Isaiah 43:18,19. We can either get stuck in the pain of the past or move on to new beginnings. New beginnings do not ignore or erase the past, but they take us beyond its sometimes devastating hurts. They lead us out of its destructive bondage. The past is a teacher, true, but it is not our master. As someone has aptly said: 'Don't try to run forward while looking backward.'"

Reminds me of Philippians 3 where Paul says much the same thing: don't forget the lessons of the past, but set the past aside, don't let it dominate your thinking about the future, and press on.

Ran across 3 brief thoughts (via e-mail from one of you) along a similar vein, so more on that tomorrow.

You've been prayed for today...

God Doesn't Leave You Hanging

Hey, Y'all,

TGIF...today we're picking up where we left off yesterday with the idea that, regardless of external circumstances, God is with us, living and working in us, and that God is not a God of confusion but of peace, peace that transcends our ability to understand how or why...

This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it, the LORD is his name: "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."
Jeremiah 33:2,3

"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD.
Isaiah 1:18

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5,6

Love that last verse--of course we tend to get tunnel vision on the "He willl direct your paths" part while missing the 2 conditions--first that we have to know Him and trust Him completely, a process that takes both time and consistent effort to make a quiet space in our schedules ('cause it's not like our lives naturally make it easy to seek spiritual things--or maybe it's just me ), and secondly, to check with Him first before running off in a given direction (here again, I'm sure it's just me). Neither one is the easiest thing ever to accomplish, but then nothing worthwhile ever is.

In another version it says it like this:

Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind, and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know Him, recognize Him, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.

Amen to that...you've been prayed for today...

One Last Response To "God in The Middle Of It"

Hey, Y'all,

One last thought on "God In The Middle Of It (With Us)"--thanks for sharing, Cathy. BTW, I know lately these have been a bit longer than usual, but based on the number of responses to this string of RSTs, obviously a lot of you are or were wrestling with hard things, so thanks for sharing with the list and just keep on keepin' on (with your spiritual walk), God is not going to leave you hanging (BTW, more on that new topic next RST)...

"The hurricanes of life come. Just like a physical hurricane leaves one disoriented and fighting for survival, so it is with spiritual hurricanes. As the winds pour down destruction, so will the spiritual arrows of overwhelming fear. As the spiritual attacks try to destroy us, we must LISTEN to that still small voice that was once easier to discern. When the spiritual attacks come in the midst of a hurricane, it can be very difficult to know whose voice we're really hearing, it's very difficult to really know God's will and at such a vulnerable time--my survival depends on being in His will.

"This is where Faith comes in. Faith is action. I have to step out while I'm being attacked and keep focused on His Word. The Word is Jesus talking directly to us since Jesus IS the Word. My part is to keep LISTENING and stepping forward as I stand on His Word. As I do this, it becomes more clear that I AM in God's will. This is not easy when there's intense fear and anxiety trying to confuse and paralyze me. The key is to LISTEN, ask God if this is the direction to take, and then DO it. You probably will do it shaking in your boots because you're wondering if you really acted upon God's Word and not your own or Satan's. As you keep moving forward in Faith you gain confidence that you did choose the right course of action. You're further uplifted to realize that the attacks did not overwhelm you or destroy you. They lost their power the more you stood on His Word and moved forward to Victory. God IS awesome! He'll take you through the storm to Victory IF you trust Him and His Word.

"There is one particular scripture that I hear over and over and that has helped me and keeps me from losing it, it's Isaiah 41:10...

"Do not fear for I am with you. Do not anxiously look about you for I am your God. I will help you, I will strenghten you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." But most of the time what I hear is " DO NOT FEAR!" Thanks for letting me share--I just wanted to help others who may be going through their own storms that seem to be overwhelming."

Thanks again, Cathy--love that text--brought to mind a few other passages...

"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
John 16:33

"We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed."
2 Corinthians 4:8,9

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;
the flames will not consume you."
Isaiah 43:2

(BTW, if you ever mis-type Isaiah 43:2 and type 42:3 you'll find the answer to the question, "does our Heavenly Father have a gentle and patient way about Him?" Check it out...
"A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out." Love that verse...)

And finally, of course, James 1--look that one up on your own 'cause it's well worth the read (again) and I don't want to make this installment too long (woops--too late!).

So what do I love about all of these passages? None of them talk about any expectation that we're going to escape life's ups and downs and skate through life just 'cause we're christians or "good people," in fact, if you think about it for a minute, you realize that many of these "spiritual giants" had a lot more to deal with than others around them (and than us for that matter). Interesting then that nowhere are we told that "good solid christian life = smooth sailing" --- so where did that idea come from?!? Furthermore, the opposite seems to be true: "follow me and you'll be swimming upstream." So what's the point of that?!?

3 things come to mind right away: He doesn't say you won't have troubles, but He does say you'll be able to get through them 'cause He's right there with you (yes, "in the middle of it all"). 2nd thing: troubles and hard times are inevitable here on this earth, so we might as well embrace them as a fact of life and allow God's working in us to enable growth and maturation and to improve our empathy and perspective (James 1 again). And 3rdly, this isn't all there is. Yeah, I know, settle down, I'm not saying by any means that we should live in some sort of ethereal otherworldly zone where we try to ignore this world and its inhabitants--because in fact the opposite is likely to be much more constructive to a healthy perspective: who hasn't had the experience of moping around feeling sorry for yourself when you see something and suddenly realize that someone else's life is much much harder than yours. What I am saying is that, as "believers," one of the things we believe is that there's much more after this, that this place is just a temporary stop, and that any "injustices" or hurts or burdens borne down here will pale in the light of eternity and its rewards of peace and joy and complete contentment (not my concept, I just work here--check out Romans 8).

So hang in there, God didn't promise a walk in the park, but He did promise to be right there with you--in the middle of it all.

You've been prayed for today...