The Lord is MY shepherd...

Simply stated, God is always consistently, patiently, firmly leading me to a place of trust. That IS His motivation.

I am a student of human behavior. My job demands it. Working with families, residents, staff, potential customers, etc., my success depends on my ability to discern what motivates people. Is this person right for this particular job? Will their motivation carry them through the more difficult tasks and respond appropriately? While I am not a perfect student, I have definitely improved in my abilities to 'read' individuals behavior and come to some form of assessment of  their motives.

So what is my 'read' on God? First, I affirm that God is in control i.e. that everything that comes my way, God has specifically intended for me. Second, I affirm that God's intention towards me is for my good. He is not seeking to punish or mislead me for His benefit or amusement. He desires nothing for me but good. With these two presuppositions in mind, I can reflect on the environment in which God has lead me. 

I find myself in multiple circumstances of daily life that,  1)  I have no control over 2) impact myself, my family, my friends, my life and; 3) I deeply care about these issues and the affects it has on all of us.  My 'fix-it' mentality kicks in and I do the research and study the options which leads me right back to the realization that I have no control over this. It is an unbroken cycle of anxiety, determination, frustration, despair and then back to anxiety. I am left with only one option. I am 'herded' by God to a position of trust in Him. That must be the place He wants me and that is the motivation of God.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:6-7)

Footnote: Did you ever try to direct a cat someplace he didn't want to go? You do the two-step shuffle, wave your hands like a movable gate, and 50% of the time you fail to get him where you need him to go. I can identify with the cat...

The Pleasure of Obedience

Part of my daily routine is to listen to my bible on my blackberry as I drive to work. It's a short drive, so I don't get too far and if I stop it midway through a chapter, it starts at the beginning of that chapter the next day. A good arrangement as I fade in and out of paying attention (both to driving and to the reading....)

As I was listening to Exodus 25 and the details God gave to Moses in the construction of the sanctuary et al., I wondered, "What does God gain from such specific details?" Really, does it matter whether the ark was 27 inches  or 36 inches? Does it have to be acacia wood, after all hickory has a beautiful grain? And the lamp stands would be better balanced with seven branches instead of six? Do all these details 'please' God? Is it to 'appease' Him? 

Time after time as we read scripture, we ask ourselves, “Why did God do that?” And as we mull it over, mature, experience life, we come back to it and discover that it was for us, for our good. God’s intent for us is always good and His instructions are for our good. 

“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good." (Deuteronomy 10:12-13).

God gets nothing of value, has no need, is not improved in any way by what we do or say. And so as I listened to the intricate details of the temple, it occurred to me that the instructions were given for no other reason than to give us the “pleasure of obedience.” I imagined the workers creating the curtains, molding and sculpting the utensils to exact specifications. Side by side comparing notes and referring back to God’s instructions on how to construct the worship center. There was a continuity of thought and purpose as they followed the directions and a sense of accomplishment that they had followed it to the best of their ability. 

Part of our struggle with obedience today is we have many earthly masters who have directed us wrong, whose intent is not for our 'good' and who show an imperfect understanding of the situation or the path. We question their motives, second guess their directives, and generally lack commitment to their cause. And through our doubt, we become dissatisfied and restless, robbing ourselves of the pleasure of obedience. While I don't encourage a 'blind' obedience to our earthly leaders, I do need to affirm the fact that regardless of the leadership, God is the one ultimately in control. Do I trust HIM? 

His intent for me is for my GOOD(1). 
His love for me is UNDENIABLE(2). 
His plan for me is PERFECT(3).

So now my part is trust. 

Lord, I need Your help to trust You daily, to rest in Your plan for me, to grasp Your love, and to experience the pleasure of obedience to You. Amen.

Perfect obedience would be perfect happiness, if only we had perfect confidence in the power we were obeying.

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(1) For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)

(2) "For God so loved the world,^[i] that he gave..." (John 3:16)

(3)"This God—his way is perfect;    the word of the Lord proves true;    he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him." (Psalms 18:30)

A 'House of Peace'

 “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father's house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God…”  Gen 28:20

Jacob’s prayer and hope for peace within the family was well founded. The family dynamic he was running from would match any modern day fiasco we could read about today. A house divided, mother against father, brother against brother, inheritance disputes, manipulation, deception, lack of communication, hatred, and murderous threats all rolled in one chapter (Genesis 27).  The emotional turmoil of intimate relationships shattered and a heart hungry for peace is reflected in Jacob’s oath, “If God will be with me …so that I come again to my father’s house in peace…” And herein is his hope. On the run, Jacob met God in his dream and he made a commitment to follow God. He named the place of his meeting, Bethel – ‘House of God’. Perhaps a reflection of his desire for peace and an understanding that only in God’s house, under His authority and submission to Him, would he find a peaceful house –a home.

I have never known anything but a peaceful, loving family environment. The words ‘shut-up’ were never allowed to be used in our family. We had daily meals together. We had a daily time of prayer so routine that even our dog, Ginger, participated in the closing Lord’s prayer. The only thing I remember ‘catching’ my father at, was being on his knees in prayer at 5AM every morning.  But this great blessing has not isolated me from the fact that many others live in situations more like Jacob’s than my experience.  And so, while I may not be able to ‘emphasize’ with the ravenous hunger for ‘peace’ in life’s most intimate relationships, I can’t but help to hold up the hope expressed by Jacob for the peace that comes from being a part of God’s loving household.  A cry for  'peace' that vibrates throughout all of scripture and is finally and complete answered in Jesus:

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. (Ephesians 2:13-21 [ESV])

Lord, thank you for the perfect peace you bring to my life. May I walk in your peace today. May others know your peace...because we are all in need of it....AMEN.

JESUS I COME...

Out of my bondage, sorrow, and night,

Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;

Into Thy freedom, gladness, and light,

Jesus, I come to Thee;

Out of my sickness, into Thy health,

Out of my want and into Thy wealth,

Out of my sin and into Thyself,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of my shameful failure and loss,

Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;

Into the glorious gain of Thy cross,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of earth’s sorrows into Thy balm,

Out of life’s storms and into Thy calm,

Out of distress to jubilant psalm,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of unrest and arrogant pride,

Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;

Into Thy blessèd will to abide,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of myself to dwell in Thy love,

Out of despair into raptures above,

Upward for aye on wings like a dove,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of the fear and dread of the tomb,

Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;

Into the joy and light of Thy throne,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of the depths of ruin untold,

Into the peace of Thy sheltering fold,

Ever Thy glorious face to behold,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

Note: No one can find peace with family and others without first finding peace with God. You might have peaceful moments, but that's just a 'cease fire'.

How not to make a 'foal' of yourself.

(Jesus)...said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” 

Who were the owners of the donkey on which Jesus rode into Jerusalem? In times past when I read this passage, I entertained the idea that the disciples were opportunists. Having been commanded to go and find  an unridden donkey, they went searching in the city.  Perhaps making a few false attempts with owners who  were not so inclined to 'lend' their foal, but finally finding one whose owner was either not very attentive or whose keepers were confused about the intent or the identity of the disciples. But that concept does not line up with the character of Jesus. He would not misrepresent His intent or take advantage of an individual, nor allow His disciples to do so either. No...the ass was prepped and ready for this specific event, a divinely appointed interaction with the Son of God. 

So who were the owners and and how did they come to be a part of this event? Some thoughts: 

•  The owners were obedient to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. In some way they understood that it was important to take a specific ass ('...a young donkey tied, on which no one has sat...'), during a specific time period (perhaps  over several days), in a specific place ('...immediately as you enter into it...'),  and respond to any inquiries ('...the Lord needs it...'). 
• By patient anticipation, they were called to fulfill their part of the plan in giving permission to the disciples to take the donkey ("And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go.")
• The owners did not know the full plan of God, just the part to which  they were called to be obedient.
• God allowed them to 'join' Him as participants and see His will/plan unfold. 
• I believe the owners were active participants in the worship of Jesus as He entered the city. Hosanna! And maybe even telling their friends 'See that donkey...its ours! God told us to have it ready! Jesus is riding our donkey and it isn't even broken in yet!"

Lord, grant me a peaceful soul to hear you speak in the confused, noisy world...

Lord give me wisdom to discern your instruction...

and Lord, give me the strength and willingness to obey.

May I patiently watch in great anticipation of what you will do with my obedience...

and Lord, when you wow me with your plan, may I  dance in the streets in open worship of YOU!

Holy Check List

We live and die by ‘check off’ lists:

ü  Graduate from High School

ü  Graduate from College

ü  Find spouse

ü  Find job

ü  Find house

ü  vacation

ü  Go to church

ü  Pay bills

ü  Have kids

ü  Pay more bills

ü  Save for retirement

Each check off item has a more detailed check list that gets us to that goal. So it is an easy transition to view ‘lists’ in scripture as tasks to be completed in order to be holy.

ü  We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day.

ü  We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents,

ü  nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.

ü  Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. (I Cor 10:8-11)

Having completed our holy list, we look with admiration that we have arrived.

Job complete.  

But when we do not quite get our list completed, we have the sense of failure…a determination to do better the next day… an urgency to become what we know we should be.

However, ‘lists’ in scripture are not tasks to be completed but mile-markers and sign posts on this holiness road that lets us know we are on the right bus. We made the decision to entrust our life in the driver’s hands, HE is in control and we are riding along, actively embracing the journey.

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. (Romans 14:17-19)

So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God,  for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. (Hebrews 4:9-10)

Lord, help me to rest and trust You on this journey. Free me from the tyranny of task driven check lists and help me embrace Your Spirit’s direction and control in my life. 

Lord. He Stinks

John 11:38-42

Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.”  When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Lord… He stinks!

Hindered in grave clothes and head wraps, Lazarus walked out of his casket and into a new life. Permanently dead and rotting away, Jesus simply called him to life. I wonder…did the smell of death still linger on him and his clothes? Did the regeneration of his body immediately eliminate the stench of a four-day-dead body? Did it take a while for the air to clear in and around the Spirit-breathed form of the man called Lazarus?

How about me? Does this regenerated man still waft an odor of death? Do the old ways still linger and stink. Probably. But I can’t deny that this once dead man has been resuscitated by God and called to new life.