Bryan – Page 22 – Running After Papa

Callouses (Acts 28:25-27)

²⁵They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your forefathers when he said through Isaiah the prophet:

²⁶ “ ‘Go to this people and say,

“You will be ever hearing but never understanding;

you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”

²⁷ For this people’s heart has become calloused;

they hardly hear with their ears,

and they have closed their eyes.

Otherwise they might see with their eyes,

hear with their ears,

understand with their hearts

and turn, and I would heal them.’

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Ac 28:25-27). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

I’ve been there – that place with a calloused heart – and I don’t EVER want to go back!

How many people, who call themselves Christians, do just this? They hear with their ears and see with their eyes but it never gets through to their heart? There is never understanding. It has led to a “consumer” mentality among Christians in our churches. People come to church to be entertained, to see the “show”.

Our church has amazing worship. It is executed with a very high degree of excellence. This is a double-edged sword. To the consumer-minded church-goer it is a VERY good “show”. To the pursurer of God’s heart, it is a wonderful time of entering God’s presence in corporate worship.

The difference between the first half of 27 and the last half of 27 is a calloused heart.

A callus is an area of thick skin. Calluses form at points where there is a lot of repeated pressure for a long period of time – such as the hours spent raking leaves. The skin hardens from the pressure over time and eventually thickens, forming a hard tough grayish or yellowish surface that may feel bumpy.
http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/skin/blisters.html

I play the guitar and on the ends of the fingers of my left hand are callouses. They are yellowish and hard. They have less feeling in them as the are basically compacted dead skin. There is no nerve endings in them. They are dulled and insensitive to feeling. This is a good thing, in this case, as the bigger the callouses get, the longer I can play the guitar pain free.

When God says the heart has become calloused, how did it get that way? Disobedience. The “rub” on the same place in our heart that becomes calloused is our saying “NO” to Father, whether He is trying to grow us (Transformation) or He is trying to convict us (Repentance).

God wants us to be continually transformed while we are inhabiting this earth. He will prompt us to do things that will stretch and grow us… usually these are out of our comfort zone. James 4:17 “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” Ouch! This then takes us directly to the next area where callouses form. Repentance. When Father reveals those places in our lives that are in sin, he convicts us. The longer we don’t respond, usually out of fear or pride, the easier it is to “live with” that sin in our life. Father wants us to be free of all the crap in our hearts.

Papa,
While I love my callouses on my finger tips, I don’t ever want to develop callouses on my heart from disobeying you. My prayer is that I would be quick to respond to You, whatever you call me to; be it areas of transformation and growth or be it areas of repentance in my life. I don’t want my heart to be dulled and insensitive as my fingertips are.

Running After Papa…

Where I Am Supposed To Be (Prov 14:12)

Last night I had a dream. A man (not someone I knew – its just a story about a man) was standing, waiting to be picked up on a very wet, stormy, windy, and dark night. The man realized he could run to his destination faster than standing there waiting for his ride – which was en route. On his journey to his destination, he was blindsided by a car and died.

I don’t usually remember dreams, but this was vivid – however, it was not scary – and I remembered it when I woke up. I asked the Lord, “What was that all about?” He replied, “That man was not where he was supposed to be.“

I thought it unusual, and made a mental note and journaled it for later reference.

I wonder how many of us are blindsided by the enemy because we are not where we are supposed to be?

When I shared the dream with my wife, she shared this scripture with me. I totally believe the dream is this verse in pictures:

Proverbs 14:12 (NIV) ” There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”

The man in my dream thought getting out of his “perceived danger” (a stormy, dark, rainy night) in a more immediate timeframe would be prudent, safe, and more comfortable. In the end, it led to his death.

Brief topic change, but hang with me… I’ll tie it together in a minute.

Today, I had a conference call where my boss announced (surprisingly) he is taking a new position within our company. This meant he would not be my boss any longer. This left me very uneasy and nervous. I have half a dozen “understandings” with my boss (who I like very much) that are not documented for a new boss to know or understand when he comes in. These understandings are all significant as they relate to my compensation, territory, and employment. I felt very exposed and anxious.

God is so gracious. Once I realized how I felt inside, Papa gently reminded me that He alone is my provision and He alone is my total joy and my total hope. I realized that I had put some of my joy in my job and now that my job had the potential to change, potentially for the worse, some of my joy was taken. I felt a little bit hopeless.

Father, forgive me! I am in sin in putting an idol before you. I have taken my eyes off You and put them on me. You and You alone are my provision, not Amdocs – my employer, not AT&T – my customer, but You – my Father – and only You. Forgive my arrogance and pride of putting me above you. Forgive my idolatry. Amen.

Romans 5:3b-4 says that as we take joy in our suffering, we develop perseverance (patience) and with perseverance comes character. Character, as I understand it, is Christ-likeness. With Character comes HOPE. My sufferings, lead to my HOPE – when and only when I embrace them along my journey of transformation. When I let some of my hope be taken by the news of my boss leaving and what might happen to me, Father showed me that I was responding to my suffering inappropriately.

I do not want to be blindsided by my enemy because I am not where I am supposed to be. I want to be right in the middle of God’s will… right where he wants me.

Father, I will wait for You. I will not run ahead of you. I will stand in the storm, in the dark, in the rain, in the wind, in my discomfort, to wait for YOU. I want to be where I am supposed to be. I want to be in the middle of your will, wherever that takes me. I don’t ever want to be out of your presence. Consecrate me for your service, Lord, and set me apart for your will. I want all of what You have for me. I am desperate for ALL of You! Amen.

Running After Papa, in submission to Him…

On Guard! (Acts 20:28)

Acts:20:28 (NIV) ²⁸Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. …³¹So be on your guard! …

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Ac 20:28-31). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Father has put me exactly where he wants me. It is my responsibility to be faithful over what He has charged me with – be that diligent about the family finances, the nurturing and discipleship of my wife and children, the worship ministry, serving at our church, in the lives of men through FTS and our Men’s bible study, my workplace. All of these places, Father wants me to “… keep watch over…”.

My enemy, however, wants me to be OFF my guard! If he cannot derail me and disqualify me from service entirely, then he wants to distract me in any way possible. That could even be keeping me myopically focused on only ONE of the areas Father has charged me with so the other areas will suffer. Hence Paul’s warning, “So be on your guard!“

Father, I thank you for your daily grace. I thank you for my assignments. I ask now for Your wisdom and attentiveness to each and every task you’ve put before me. I want to always be on guard against the plot of the enemy. Help me prioritize and balance and only do those things that YOU have called me to do. Help me strip away the fluff of my life. Father, examine my heart. Shine your light and expose those areas that I need to let go and get rid of in order to make You the main thing. I pray that I don’t filter my activities on what’s “good” or “not good”, but that I filter my activities on what “my calling” and what’s “not my calling”, so that each and every day, I walk in the midst of your will for my life… moment by moment… decision by decision… action by action… with intentional obedience. Thank you for loving me and trusting me with what you’ve trusted me with. In Jesus’ name I pray… Amen.

Running After Papa…

Jesus {Bleeping} Christ (Acts 19:17b)

Acts 19:17b (NIV)

“… and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.”

Wow! Where is the honor for the name of Jesus Christ today? It is no longer a name held in high esteem in our culture, now it is a substitute cuss-word. That makes me sad. What really makes me sad, I am ashamed to say, is that I have used His name in that way before. But probably what makes me even sadder still is that I have not taken a stand FOR His name among the people that I know. I have been a coward for the sake of not causing conflict. I have been a wimp.

James 4:17 says “Anyone who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” I have sinned. I have not done that which I knew to do.

Papa,

Forgive my sins. I ask you to forgive me for using your name in a way your name should NEVER be used. I also ask your forgiveness for my sins of omission in defending the noble name of Jesus Christ. I ask you to give me courage to face those around me who do not hold the name of Jesus Christ in “high honor.”

In the name if Jesus Christ I pray. Amen

Running After Papa…

American Idol (Acts 17:16)

Acts 17:16 (NIV)

¹⁶While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.

Two questions come up for me in this passage, one more obvious than the other:

1. What “idols” do I still have in my life that either draw me away from OR limit my relationship with Papa?

2. Am I “greatly distressed” to see my city filled with idols? Am I even a little “distressed” over it? Does it really even bother me?

If I am honest about answering that, I have to lean to the latter of the second question. “Evangelism isn’t my gift,” has always been my excuse and has always soothed my conscience. I believe God has called some, and gifted them accordingly, to a life of intentional evangelism; those such as Billy Graham and numerous other evangelists. But God has called each one of us to a life of evangelism, not only by our lifestyle but by word of mouth. Ephesians 4:5-6 says “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” In that verse alone is “act” (living) and “conversation” (speaking) that is to draw people to Christ and tell others about the hope that is within us. In that reasoning alone, I should be at least a little bothered at the idols in my community.

However, as I grow closer to my heavenly Father and fall more in love with Him, what should really break my heart about the idols in my land is the fact that something OTHER than my Papa is getting worship, praise and adoration from the people in my city. This should cause me “great distress” as Paul felt in Athens.

It is a poor analogy, but we (our culture, our society) gets so worked up about who gets how many “votes” on American Idol (interesting name, huh?) when we should be much more worked up about who is getting praised and worshipped. We, as a culture, get distressed when our favorite “idol” gets voted off the show. Do we feel “greatly distressed” when our Father gets “voted off” the hearts of our city and community?

This is really giving me a new perspective and viewpoint on evangelism. What if my evangelism (again, not my spiritual gift – but still my responsibility) was from the perspective of amassing as much worship and praise for my heavenly Father from as many people as I could get to worship Him? What if it was about getting all the people in my community, my sphere of influence, to put aside their idols and worship the ONLY one worthy of worship. All of a sudden, evangelism isn’t about saving people, but about worshipping God just BECAUSE HE IS WORTHY!!

Papa,

I thank you for your Word. I thank you for Your truth. Search my heart, O Lord, and see if I have anything that I’ve set up as an idol that draws me away from you. Show me anything that limits my relationship or hinders my growth an any way from You. Clean out all the rocks, pebbles, grains of sand that slow down the flow of your Spirit in me. Break my heart, O God, for your people. Strengthen me to live a life that draws people to you THAT YOU MAY BE WORSHIPPED! I love you. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.

Running After Papa…

Nobility (Acts 17:11)

Acts 17:11 (NIV)

¹¹Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

I am drawn to this verse today and keep reading and re-reading it. I have always been drawn to stories and movies of nobility; King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table; the movie “The Patriot”; Gladiator. What does it mean to be noble? Mirriam Webster defines it as:

no•ble \ˈnō-bəl\ adj

no•bler \-b(ə-)lər\; no•blest \-b(ə-)ləst\ [ME, fr. AF, fr. L nobilis well-known, noble, fr. noscere to come to know — more at know]

1 a : possessing outstanding qualities : illustrious

b : famous, notable 〈noble deeds〉

2 : of high birth or exalted rank : aristocratic

3 a : possessing very high or excellent qualities or properties 〈noble wine〉

b : very good or excellent

4 : grand or impressive esp. in appearance 〈noble edifice〉

5 : possessing, characterized by, or arising from superiority of mind or character or of ideals or morals : lofty 〈a noble ambition〉

6 : chemically inert or inactive esp. toward oxygen 〈a noble metal such as platinum〉 — compare base 6a syn see moral — no•ble•ness \-bəl-nəs\ n — no•bly \-blē also -bə-lē\ adv

Merriam-Webster, I. (2003). Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary. Includes index. (Eleventh ed.). Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, Inc.

According to Acts 17:11, I become noble – or more noble – by receiving the message with great eagerness (the New Living version says “more open minded”) and by examining or searching the Scripture every day.

I am a beloved son of God. We are beloved children of God, THE Lord of Lords, THE King of Kings. You and I ARE nobility (see definition #2). You and I are “of high birth or exalted rank!”

What is the message I receive with eagerness?

All too often, I receive the message from my enemy… a message that dissuades me, a message that depresses me, a message of my worthlessness, a message of “never be good enough”, a message that tears me down an draws me away from or hinders my knowing my Father more. The bible says that my enemy is a liar and there is no truth in him. James tells me that every good and perfect thing is from God. Every good thing – even good thoughts – is from God. Daddy doesn’t ever want me to forget who I am in Christ, my family name – so to speak, my heritage. He doesn’t want me to forget my nobilty!

Father,

I ask you to forgive me for those times when I choose to believe the lies of the devil instead of the truth of Your Word about who I am. I repent from it and choose today to receive with eagerness the message You have given me about who I am – that I am The King’s beloved son. Father help me “be more noble” by receiving your message and eagerly examining the Scriptures daily, as the Bereans did in Acts 17. I ask these things in the mighty and noble name of Jesus. Amen

Running After Papa…

Suck It Up! (Acts 16)

Acts 16:25 (NIV)

²⁵About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.

OK. Let me get this straight. Paul and Silas had been up all day, delivered a slave girl from a demon, got arrested, were severely beaten and flogged (remember “The Passion of the Christ”?), thrown into a dark, dungy jail with no lights (v29) and they were praying and singing hymns to God???? I can’t even seem to stay awake praying at 10pm – even when I get up late!

Can you imagine sitting in the dark, physically exhausted and drained, bruised and bleeding (v33), and not going to sleep but instead having a worship service?

Check this out. They took the beating. At any point, they could have played the “I’m a Roman citizen” card and used their get out of jail card. They could have stopped the beating and even avoided the whole thing! But they didn’t. I’ve been challenged to get into shape and have been working out. You know that feeling when your muscles hurt? I call it a “good pain.” I imagine Jesus had the same attitude about his torture and crucifixion – “It’s a good pain. I am redeeming my children.” Obviously, Paul and Silas had the same attitude to be counted worthy to suffer for Christ and for the gospel.

What if they had stopped the beating? What if they had avoided the pain? What if they had stayed in their comfort zone? One thing for sure, the jailer and his family would all have gone to hell. At the time, Paul and Silas didn’t know that he and all his family would get saved. They merely lived in the moment that God had given them. Hindsight showed them that their suffering was a “good pain”.

Application:

1. Suck it up! How can I possibly say “I’m too tired!” when it comes to ministering to the Lord? Father forgive me for being such a wimp! Stretch me to not only endure, but to glory in the “good pains”, those things that take me out of my comfort zone and enlarge the Kingdom.

2. I am always “ON”. I cannot turn on and turn off my walk, if I am fully submitted to Christ and His purposes in my life. I will never know when God will use my situation – good or bad – to bring Glory to Himself or to bring another soul into the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Father forgive my fickle heart. Jesus turn me to the “on” position and rip the knob OFF! I love you and willing submit to a life committed to your service. Before my brothers – who I know will hold me accountable – I pledge my life to your will. I empty myself of ME and ask you to fill me up…. to put on my flesh and live my life here on earth (Gal 2:20).

Running After Papa…

It’s Not Complicated (Acts 15)

Acts 15:2b: … So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.

Why is it in our human nature to take what God has so simply given us and make is so stinkin complicated? Salvation is so straightforward (simple in command – a daily struggle in practice) – ACCEPT THE FREE GIFT OF CHRIST. That’s it. Why do we add our own crap to it? In this passage, God had clearly given the invitation of grace to the Gentiles and the same Holy Spirit in Cornelius’ house (Acts 10:47-48). Why then did those from Judea and Antioch think some aspect of the law (and WOW what an aspect!) – a longstanding tradition – was required to receive the grace of God through Jesus Christ?

My belief? Jealousy… Pride… They didn’t really want the Gentiles to be saved, and if they did they should suffer for it. They were too steeped in “the way we do things around here”. I think they chose circumcision for two reasons: 1. It was a steep price to pay. It was painful and required suffering and they hoped it would dissuade the Gentiles from conversion. 2. More importantly, it was an outward expression, a visible sign, a way of keeping control and a way to stay in “high regard” and “be respected”… again PRIDE! They didn’t want all the “things” they had already done to not count! Can’t you hear their hearts? “How dare God give away salvation freely! How dare he give to the ‘heathen Gentiles’ the same salvation my people have suffered for and worked so hard for through the generations!”

You know what? I suffer from the same sickness… the same depravity. Jeer 17:9 says “The heart is more deceitful than all else; who can understand it?” My heart deceives me… not so much with salvation, but with God’s blessings. I have grown to understand and know of God’s saving grace and that I can never do ANYTHING to earn it. Not so with His blessing. I have, almost unconsciously, felt that I have to do the right things and do them consistently and long enough for God to bless me. I have sinned.

Father, I repent to you now for making my Christian walk more complicated that you require. You simply want my heart. You simply want me to be in love with you. I’ve said it a hundred times that we can’t work for or earn our salvation, but deep inside I’ve let my heart deceive me. I’ve taken the world concepts of “you can’t get something for nothing” and “you get what you pay for” and applied them to your blessing. Forgive me. Papa, you know I want all that you have for me. Help me get out of the way and help me to quit trying to “earn” or “pay for” your blessings. I’ve known that my salvation is by your grace and your grace alone, now I realize that your blessings are by your grace and by your grace alone. Thank you for loving me in spite of myself. Thank you for saving me. Thank you for blessing me. I love you. Amen.

Running After Papa…

The Stuff of Life (Acts 4:20)

Acts 4:20 (NIV)

For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard

What topics dominate my conversation? What have I seen and heard that I “cannot help speaking about…”?

It’s not uncommon to go into the office and spend time (sometimes too much) chatting with my coworkers about really significant stuff…. Like, who sang what on the last round of American Idol, or what Jack Bauer is going to do in the next episode of 24. You know… real life & death stuff.

My children are forever remembering, and recounting, something they found particularly funny on SpongeBob Squarepants or “The Suite Life of Zach & Cody” or a scene from “Nacho Libre” (Ok, this movie WAS laugh out-loud funny!)

We spend countless hours dissecting play by play of the last football game we watched, or the last hockey game, golf tournament, baseball game, tennis match, basketball game, (fill in your favorite sport).

How much time TODAY have I spent talking about what Jesus has done in my life? How much time have I spent recounting how He has freed me and changed my life? How many people have I testified to about how Christ has transformed who I am? I am sad to say, not near as much as He deserves. If I cannot help but speak about what I have seen and heard, then the question becomes:

What am I seeing and hearing?

Are we – Am I – speaking with Father and hearing from my Daddy enough?

Father,

Today I ask for forgiveness for not speaking with you enough. I repent of my selfish, pride-filled ways that act like cotton in my ears and prevent me from hearing from You. Forgive me Papa that my speech and my conversations are more about “the stuff of life” and not the “Giver of Life.” Open my eyes to see You, open my ears to hear You and open my mouth to speak with You and testify about You. Help me today to converse with you across the kitchen table or at my desk. Let my conversations be more about You and less about me. Holy Spirit I invite you today to refill me – moment by moment – today. Amen

Running After Papa…

Oooh Hands! (Acts 3)

Acts 3:16b (NIV)

… It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.

1. There is power in Jesus’ name

2. I have to believe in it

It is only when my faith is tied to the power of His name that I am completely healed – of whatever ails me.

James 5:15-16 (NIV)
¹⁵And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. ¹⁶Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Acts 3:19 (NIV)

19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord

Acts 3:19 (The Message)
^19–23 “Now it’s time to change your ways! Turn to face God so he can wipe away your sins, pour out showers of blessing to refresh you,

How The Message version puts the word ‘repent’ only reiterates to me that every choice we make, everything we do or say or think or feel, every direction we go, is only ‘on’ or ‘off’, north or south, yes or no. There are no grey areas in God-speak as it relates to our relationship with Him. We are either moving toward Him or we are moving away from Him. There is no 3^rd option. We cannot simply “stay the same” or “not move” or “stand still” as it relates to our relationship with him. Our path of travel is either directly at God or directly away from God. That is a sobering thought.

How many of the old testament passages have “do not turn to the right or to the left” in them? I wonder if that’s because THERE IS NO RIGHT OR LEFT. There is only forward and backward!

The picture I see when I read this passage in The Message is this:

Have you ever tried to wipe the face of a toddler who is really just beginning to walk/run pretty well? You know how they eat Peanut Butter & Jelly sandwiches… bite after bite straight through the middle of the sandwich. Of course, this gets the sticky, gooey, wonderfully delicious mess all over their chubby little cheeks.

Now remember (or picture – if you don’t have children) trying to wipe their face after they have gotten down off the chair and they are all hyped up on the sugar in the jelly. They want to be zooming all over the place, but they’ve got sticky gooey all over them!

I remember when my children were toddlers. In particular, when my first born was at the stage of feeding herself. For whatever reason, she couldn’t stand to have stuff on her hands. She would begin eating (as most toddlers do) mushing stuff all over and occasionally into her mouth. Then she would realize how messy her hands were. She’d raise her arms in the air and look for one of us and cry out “Oooh hands! Oooh hands!” waiting until we would wipe them clean. Then she would commence to eating (if you could call it eating) again until she realized her hands were dirty. The process would start all over and continue all they way through her meal. I was always amazed that she didn’t seem to care about how messy her face was, just her hands. I wonder if it was because she couldn’t see her face while she was eating. Regardless, after her meal, we would get her down and begin the cleaning process of getting all the food bits and goo out of her hair, off her nose and cheeks, out of her nostrils and ears, (you get the picture) – she had it everywhere! But after the cleaning, she always got kisses from Mommy or Daddy all over her chubby little cheeks.

I think Papa is waiting for us to cry out “Oooh hands! Oooh hands!” or more likely he wants us to cry out “Oooh Heart! Oooh Heart!” When we do, can’t you just see him stooping down and wiping all the crap and dirt and junk from our faces – out of our hearts – and then just kissing us all over the cheeks like a good and loving Father? I can. I relish those kisses.

Look back at Acts 3:19… “… that times of refreshing may come…”. How awesome is that? God refreshes us Father has to clean us up and clean us out in order that he can refresh us – so he can re-fresh us and make us fresh again.

Father,

Help me to always be moving toward you so that my face is always before you so you can clean my face and refresh me. I always want to be moving forward and in your direction; never away from you. I thank you for times of refreshing. Help me to look for and notice all the kisses on the cheek that you give. I love you.

Running After Papa…