Is God Really Good?

Have you ever been praying for someone- Maybe a friend- Maybe a family member- Someone who is sick- Maybe even in severe suffering- A good Christian person- Someone who clearly loves Jesus- Someone whose life exemplifies the Love of Christ- And yet God doesn't heal them. The pain and suffering continue. You know God could heal them- He could take away their pain with a word- Or even just a thought- And yet He doesn't. Is this God really good? Does He really Love us? Is He paying attention? Is He really able to do what we ask?

I am here to say Yes, Yes and Yes Again.

God is Good!

God does Love us!

God has not forgotten us!

God is able to do more than we can ask or imagine!

Now that last phrase from Ephesians 3:20-21 might be the key to the whole thing.

Could it be that even in the suffering of the one we Love-

Somehow God is doing more than we can ask or imagine-

Something that will bring this one or even many more...........

To Life

Could it be that even suffering is accomplishing Love and Life in that person and the people around them in ways that are not otherwise possible.

Remember when Jesus told his disciples about how He would suffer and die-

Peter's response was, "Lord this can not be".

Remember how Jesus rebuked Peter-

"Get thee behind me Satan-

For you have in mind the things of this world-

Not the things of God".

Please don't misunderstand-

I do not believe God is the Author of our pain-

I do believe it is good and right to pray for our loved one's healing and comfort-

But in all this we must always remember-

No.........More than remember-

We must get a firm grip on the reality

that God Loves People infinitely more than we can imagine.

Can we fall so in Love with Jesus

That we come to trust Him not only with our own lives-

But also with the lives of those we Love?

Father in Heaven, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit-

Triune God

I know many who suffer just now- Some Greatly.

I pray that You would have mercy on each one and the people who Love them.

I pray that You would bring comfort in their affliction.

I pray for physical healing where it will lead to a deeper trust in You.

Father in those places where I see no healing coming,

I pray that You redeem every ounce of pain experienced-

To the end of bringing Life.

I thank You for Your Love for each of these who are hurting-

I choose to trust You with their Lives.

Move in me and others close to those who suffer to become

Vehicles of Your Grace, Love and Mercy so that they might feel

Your Love

Through us.

Amen

God Loves People....... Through People

The Bible is Awesome- Worship Experiences are incredible- Prayer is Life Sustaining- Christian Writers and Speakers are Invaluable- But...........

When it comes to experiencing the Love of God-

When it comes to life changing encounters with the Holy Spirit-

To taking the Love of God from abstract theology-

Or an idea-

Or a romantic notion-

To Living , Breathing, Life Changing Experience-

I have come to believe that as much as any of the above-

God expresses His Love for people-

Through people.

Jesus was the great example.

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us"

The great question is- Am I allowing Jesus to live out His Life through me to such an extent that those God brings my way are experiencing His Love and Goodness and Power in all their dealings with me? Truth- If I am a Christian- If I have given my life to Christ- He is in me- I am a New Creation- His Love can flow out through me- I have His endless capacity for Life and Grace and Love. That is Truth.

It is time to Live in Truth.

Colossians 1:24 Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you-

And I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking

(In need of expression)

In regard to Christ's afflictions-

For the sake of His Body-

Which is the Church (His People).

Father forgive me where I live out of my own self interests-

Give me conviction and a heart of repentance minute by minute where those around me do not experience Your Love and Goodness and Grace through me.

Amen

Prayer, Life and Revelation

Have you ever wanted something- Pursued something with all your energy- Prayed for that thing- Hoping- Just hoping God would come through? Between Thanksgiving and New Years I spent no less than 30 hours sitting on a deer stand. I spent an additional 15 to 20 hours in preparation for or traveling back and forth to the woods. Now as much as I love the woods- The risng sun in the morning- The scene around me coming to life in ways no other man will behold that particular day- I have to admit that not seeing even a single deer was a bit discouraging. I went hunting primarily to kill a deer- At least to see deer- It is why I was there. It is what got me up at 5:00 am each morning- To brave the cold and sometimes rain. My greatest desire was to hunt down, outwit and kill a deer- The bigger the deer the better- Oh I pretended to myself that it was enough to be in God's wonderful creation- But in the end my disappointment revealed my true desires.

I could not truely be satisfied-

With anything other than what I wanted.

My prayers for the last few weeks-Maybe months-

Have included a request that God give me a greater desire-

A greater Love for Him-

A Love for Him that is greater than my Love for anything else on the earth- Or Beyond. I wonder sometimes if in answering that prayer- God must reveal those places in me where His rivals live-

There can be no confession or repentance-

Without there first being conviction.

God answers prayer for sure-

But what about when the prayers are at odds with each other?

Lord give me a Greater desire for You than anything else in this world-

Or Beyond.

Lord send me a deer this morning.

Maybe the denying of the lesser-

Contributes to the fruition of the Greater.

Psalm 37:4-5 Delight yourself in the Lord-

And He will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord-

Trust in Him and He will do this.

Father in Heaven-

Thank You for answering the greater prayers.

Move in me to trust You and give me a desire for You-

A Desire that is truely greater than any other desire I have for anything else on this earth or beyond.

Amen

Lost Opportunities

"I sold it last week".....

"I'm sorry, but we have offered the job to another candidate".....
"Its over, I want out of here".......

Regrets, Disappointments and Lost opportunities......

Sure there will be other opportunities in the future-
But this one is gone- Never to return.
If only I had.........
Said such and such-
Not said such and such-
Done this-
Not done that.

It's Okay

Our God is the Great Redeemer

of

All That was Lost.

Think of a boy who bragged to his brothers-

Was thrown into a pit-

Sold into slavery-

Was imprisoned falsely-

But in the end...............

Was redeemed by God to preserve a Nation.

Think of the Pharisee of Pharisees-

Holding the coats of men who stoned a martyr-

Struck blind on the road to persecute the Saints-

But in the end..............

Was redeemed by our Lord to spread a Great Gospel.

Think of the one who three times said-

I don't know the man-

I was not with Him-

I don't know Him-

But in the end..............

Was redeemed by Jesus to feed His Sheep.

It's Okay

Our God is the Great Redeemer

of

All That is Lost!

So as this year comes to an end-

With all it's Triumphs-

And all it's Lost Opportunities.......

Look evermore to the Great Redeemer....

And Know that He is always with you-

Even in all these wondrous things.
 

Philippians 1:6

Being confident of this-

That He Who began a good work in you-

He will carry it on to Completion

Until the Day of Christ Jesus.

Father,

Give us rest and strength in the promise

of Your Great Love for us.

Hold us, Carry us and use all these things to

Unite our hearts to Your Great Heart of Love.

Amen

Choices- Living in Conflict

Chocolate or strawberry- This movie or that- Chinese or Mexican- The necklace or the ear rings- The Warm up suit or the Jeans today- To have your cake or to eat it-

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Why does life have to be so complicated? Wouldn't it be better if there were only one clear choice- Only One Right thing to do in every situation?

Easier, Yes-

Better-

I don't know.

What about the choice between Love and Truth- Now there's a tough one! You know what I mean don't you? Think of the classic question of every wife to her husband-

"Honey, tell me-

Do these pants make me look fat?"

Careful fellas!

Now think of the times when friends or family go wrong- Seriously wrong- Confrontation or Tolerance? Preserve Relationship or Stand for Holiness? Tough huh? It's so easy to take a stand for Holiness in the abstract- Or if I am talking about some distant relationship- Or when I am talking about someone else-

But what about when standing for Holiness-

Will jeapodize a close relationship-

Or bring on some persecution?

Is there a way to do both? Can we stand for Truth- Holiness- Yet still preserve relationship?

Can we have our cake and eat it too?

Maybe yes- Maybe no.

(How do you like that for decisiveness?)

Remember- Relationship is always a two party undertaking. I can not control another person's responses- Oh maybe I can try to manipulate to get what I want- But the other person will do what they will do. I wish I could tell you I have it all figured out- I wish I could come up with a magic formula to live by- One that always makes everything come out right- And not only come out right- But with no conflict in the process. I haven't found it. I do have some ideas- Some Maybes. Maybe I can try to speak Truth- In Love Maybe I can Love my enemies- That is- Treat them kindly- Be patient with them- Keep no record of wrongs- Bless them- Pray for them- Be Humble towards them- Maybe, because Jesus is in me I can treat those- Those who trample God's Holiness- As He has treated me- As I trample His Holiness- Maybe I can live out the Holiness of God- By pouring out His Grace- Even when I don't feel particularly Loving.

So what's it gonna be?

Hold to Truth-

People be damned

or

Cling to relationships-

While compromising Truth?

Choices, Choices, Choices- Oh, but wait a minute.......... What if Loving God by Loving people- Is Truth- And Conversely- Loving People by Loving God- Is also Truth. Please make no mistake in all this- My First and Last Loyalty is to God- To my Lord and Saviour Jesus- And the Holy Spirit Who has come to lead us. I am just coming to believe more and more- That Loyalty to Him- To the One and Only Triune God- Looks like loving people-

Matthew 5:44-45 Jesus said,

" Love your enemies-

Pray for them-

That you may be sons of your Father in Heaven.

He causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good-

He sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."

Father, Lord Jesus, Spirit of the Living God-

Be powerful in us today to choose You-

To look to You in all we think, say and do-

So that all may see Your Glory-

Your Great Love and Your Goodness

As You pour Yourself out through our lives-

The lives of those who Love You.

Amen

Today

So............Why did you get up this morning?

My son Matthew loves to sleep in- Me, I 'm a morning guy- So I really don't quite get it- This sleeping in business that is- It feels to me that if I sleep in I might be missing something.

If you think that sounds a bit neurotic- You're probably right.

Anyway-

This past Saturday after his usual semicomatose morning- I couldn't help but half jokingly ask the boy,

"Why did you bother to get up at all this morning?"

Albeit late morning- His response was interesting-

"Because I had to Dad"

I suppose he was referring to the fact that I woke him up. I mean somebody had to get his little butt on up and about the obligations of the day. Particularly, he had a Mixed Martial Arts lesson at 10:30 a.m. he needed to get ready for. Seeing as how his Mom and I pay for said lessons I feel it my obligation to make sure he goes- You know- so I can get my money's worth!

So then........ I ask again- What about you-

Why did you get up this morning?

Was it because.....................

You had to-

You were supposed to-

Someone else expected you to-

Maybe you were afraid of missing something-

Or maybe you had something to do- Some obligation-

Maybe you just got kicked out of bed-

Or maybe........ Just maybe

There was something you were really looking forward to-

Something that you anticipated-

Something Good-

Something Really, Really Good!

Wouldn't it be awesome if everyday could be like that-

I mean every morning-

As good as those nice warm covers feel-

As comfortable as that soft bed is-

As much as you know-

When you step out onto the floor......

It will be cold-

Or when you first crack open your eyelids.........

The bright light that floods in will be harsh-

All of that means nothing-

It simply fades away..........

Because there is one thing-

Something really, really good-

That consumes your thoughts as you rouse into consciousness-

Something you love so much-

Anticipate so much-

That you can hardly wait to get up!

Oh I know you have been there-

Think of Christmas morning as a child-

Think of the morning of your wedding day-

Think of the first day of vacation in some new and exotic venue-

Think of opening day of hunting season-

Think of spending the day with a friend you haven't seen in ages.......

How about thinking of getting up everyday

to spend that day with the God who created the Universe.

How about living in the reality that He-

(Yes this Incredible, Mysterious, Wondrous God)

Has something for you today.

Something He made just for you..........

Life!

1 Corinthians 2:9 "No eye has seen, no ear has heard,

Nor has any mind conceived

What God has prepared for those who love Him."

Today

Father in Heaven, help me to see the reality of even just a small bit of what You have for me each day. Move in me to launch out into every day expecting the best day of my life.

Amen

Vessels

Have you ever been really thirsty?
I mean tongue hanging out-
Parched to the bone...... Dry.
I try not to let myself get thirsty-
The cardinal rule in endurance exercise is-
Eat before you get hungry and Drink before you get thirsty.

I'm not always real good with rules.

Not too long ago I went on a bike ride but forgot to bring my water bottle-
After a ways into the ride I realized my plight-
I reached down to take hold of my water bottle and..............
Oops Nothing there.
No problem I thought-
This will be short ride-
I'll be fine.
Fast forward 30 minutes-
Arriving back at the house-
I was dying..............
Spent-
Dead on my feet.
Straight to the refrigerator I stumbled-
There..........
there it was as I opened the door-
 A tall cool bottle of Propel.
That bottle..............at that moment-
Lable glistening and cool to the touch-
Represented for me then and there-
Satisfaction............
and relief...............
and .......................... Life!

It was sooooooo good!

It's funny though-

As happy as I was to see the bottle-

It's what was in the bottle that really mattered.

I can't help but wonder now-
Wonder what I must look like-
To the tired and thirsty people God brings my way-
Every single day.
People who are hurting and isolated-
People who are in need of a drink-
People who are weary and heavy laden.

Does my life offer even the prospect of relief?

More importantly-
What am I filled with?
What am I carrying around in this vessel-
This vessel of my body and soul-
Is there anything in me that might bring Satisfaction...............
and relief..................
and ................Life.

Colossians 1:24 Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you,

and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions,

for the sake of His body, which is the church.

Truth-

Because Christ is in us-

Because we can live filled with His Spirit-

Not only can our packaging offer the prospect of Life-

But He can be poured out through us to bring Life-

As we share in His suffering-

For the people He brings our way. 

Father, move in me today to be a vessel

for Your Life to be poured out for the sake

of all the people You bring my way.
I pray that my life

become an expression of Your Love and Suffering.
Forgive me in every place I choose my own comfort
 over Your Love and suffering for

Your people.

Amen