Bryan – Page 23 – Running After Papa

Do They Like What They See ? (Acts 2)

²Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Ac 2:2). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

I just noticed something today. When the Holy Spirit fell on the first church it wasn’t a wind, per se, but a sound like a wind; like a mighty rushing windstorm.

The New International Version

⁵Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. ⁶When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Ac 2:5-6). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

The New Living Translation

⁶When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.

Tyndale House Publishers. (2004). Holy Bible : New Living Translation. “Text edition”–Spine. (2nd ed.) (Ac 2:6). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers.

The New King James translation

⁶ And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.

The New King James Version. 1982 (Ac 2:6). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

It wasn’t everyone speaking in other native tongues that drew the people of Jerusalem to the disciples. When the Holy Spirit came, he made his presence (the sound) known throughout the city of Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit drew the “God-fearing Jews” (v5) to himself.

The Holy Spirit:

Empowered the apostles with supernatural ability (other spoken and real languages) in an instant.
Emboldened the apostles to speak in a language they had never spoken before
“In Gathered” the peoples from other nations, from within the city, to Himself to hear the apostles proclaim the word and deeds of God through Jesus.

As the Lord gathered people into the church, notice God’s church building program found in verses 42-47:

⁴²They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. ⁴⁴All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. ⁴⁶Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Ac 2:42-47). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Look at how The Message version put part of this:

They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day t
heir number grew as God added those who were saved.

Peterson, E. H. (2002). The Message : The Bible in contemporary language (Ac 2:46-47). Colorado Springs, Colo.: NavPress.

Do people, in general, like what the see when they see me in my Christian walk?
Do people, in general, like what they see when I fellowship with other believers?
Better yet, do they see my Christian walk when I fellowship with other believers AND do they like what they see?
Is my fellowship, is every get-together “…exuberant and joyful…” as I praise God?

I’ve often wondered why crusades, such as the Billy Graham crusades, have been so productive and successful in bringing people to the Lord. Part of the answer lies in this passage. WE NEED EACH OTHER. People feed off of each other. Being a Lone Ranger is hard to do and it’s hard to maintain excitement. Loners are easily picked off by the enemy. If you’ve ever watched Discovery Channel, you’ve seen how the stalker (be it a wolf pack, a lion den, or whatever) always goes after the isolated and alone prey.

Can you imagine that first church? Picture over 3000 people worshipping DAILY together, eating DAILY together – each meal a celebration “…exuberant and joyful as they praised God.” Over 3000 people DAILY! Don’t you believe that would change a community? Don’t you believe that would change a city?

Papa,

Help me today to be joyful and exuberant as I praise You and celebrate You DAILY. I want to draw others to you by my excitement and DAILY adoration of You. I submit to Your will and surrender to your power through the Holy Spirit. Use me in whatever way you want – even if you want to download a new language and give me the courage to speak it! I know if you do, that you’ll draw those who understand it near to hear of Your good work and saving message in Jesus. I am yours. Fire me up, Lord!

Running After Papa…

Hiding God’s Word (Acts 1)

Acts 1:15-26 (NIV) ¹⁵In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) ¹⁶and said, “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus— ¹⁷he was one of our number and shared in this ministry.”

¹⁸(With the reward he got for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. ¹⁹Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

²⁰“For,” said Peter, “it is written in the book of Psalms,

” ‘May his place be deserted;

let there be no one to dwell in it,’

and,

” ‘May another take his place of leadership.’

²¹Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, ²²beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”

²³So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. ²⁴Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen ²⁵to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” ²⁶Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Ac 1:15-26). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

One of the things that captures me about this passage is how the scriptures that Peter had hidden in his heart in some previous time all of a sudden were incredibly relevant in the present. Think about it, perhaps Peter learned those Psalms in his childhood or early teen years. Perhaps he had learned them during the “training time” with Jesus. It doesn’t really matter the exact time, what matters is that he hid the word of God in his heart.

Peter would have no way of knowing the circumstances in which he would draw upon them. If someone would have told him that just a few hours earlier, he would see the resurrected Son of God ascend into heavens, he might have thought “… yeah…. ok…. whatever you say!” He didn’t know beforehand that he would be a disciple of the Messiah and that one of the inside 12 would betray the Christ to his death and subsequently have to be replaced.

My point is this, You and I will never know when we need to draw upon the word of God stored up in our hearts. Therefore it is crucial that we hide as much of it as possible into the deep recesses of our hearts.

Papa,

You are so awesome! I love your Word and I thank you for it. Help me to continually hide your Word in my heart so that when the time comes, I will have a deep reservoir of Spiritual Truth and Wisdom to draw from. Help me to memorize, not in pride and for pride’s sake, but that I may bring You the glory that You are due. In Jesus name, Amen.

Running After Papa….

Remembering His Words (Luke 24:5-8)

Luke 24:5-8 (NIV) ⁵In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? ⁶He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ⁷‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” ⁸Then they remembered his words.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Lk 24:5-8). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

First off, what an awesome God we serve! Jesus is alive! He rose from the grave! There is not one other world religion that worships a living, eternal God.

I have been encouraged reading this passage today. The women who went to prepare the body of Christ FORGOT what Jesus had told them. Praise God it’s not just me that forgets!

It must be human nature for us to “file away” those things God tells us. In this passage, it’s when – and only when – the women are faced with the reality of Jesus’ words – and reminded of what he had told them – do they remember what He said.

I find this happens to me from time to time. Just recently, I felt that God was giving me some very specific information about something which I am passionate about. If what was going on in my head were true, it would be an awesome blessing and expression of God’s goodness. I would love to tell you that I clung to those words, but I didn’t. I actually dismissed it as my own selfishness and filed it away under “wishful thinking.” Several days later, God reminded me of what he had said and gave me even more details. Again, I told myself that I was just making it up and again “filed it away”.

Can I tell you something? A short time after that, every single word of what God said came true, and manifested itself in my life. It was exactly what He said it would be – to every detail. Do you know what I did? I “… remembered his words.” just like the women at his grave.

First of all, I was so encouraged to know that I did in fact hear Father God and that I heard Him very specifically. Secondly, I was encouraged because of His blessing that he promised.

James 1:17 (NIV) Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Jas 1:17). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

That passage confirms two things about my Papa:

Every good thing – and that includes good thoughts – comes from Him
He never, ever changes.

It is also a lesson for me personally to remember the sound of His voice; to not dismiss those things as “wishful thinking” and file them away somewhere.

Papa,

You are such a good Father. You love to lavish your children with good gifts. Thank you for your voice. Forgive me for dismissing your goodness to me and doubting that what I heard was from you. Daddy, help me listen so much that I never forget the sound of your voice and that I could recognize it in the midst of a storm. Amen.

Running After Papa…

What if….? (Luke 23:55-56)

Luke 23:55-56 (NIV) 55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.
The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Lk 23:55-56). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

What would have happened if the women who were going to prepare Jesus’ body for burial had not observed the commandment? It would have been a noble and worthy cause to prepare the body of the one they believed to be the Christ for burial… regardless of the commandment… regardless of the Sabbath.

Just let that scene play out for a moment. Pretend you are one of those women. I imagine that I would justify it something like this…

“I know that the Sabbath is beginning (remember it began at sundown), but Jesus has just been taken down from the cross! The Son of God is wrapped only in linen and put in a tomb. This is NO WAY for the Son of God to be treated! Certainly God would forgive me if I take a few hours to prepare Jesus in a proper and fitting way. It won’t take that long…“

You can see where this is going. I can see myself doing that; in fact, I see myself do stuff like that all the time! Had those women proceeded down that path, in stead of doing what they knew God had commanded (keeping the Sabbath holy) they would have missed Jesus!!!!

There would have been NO reason to go back to the tomb on the 3rd day… on Resurrection Day!

Papa,
I pray that today, I do what I know you have called me to do. I pray that in my own ignorance and foolish wisdom, I don’t miss seeing you today! Keep my heart tuned to you Lord, keep my ears open to your instruction. I don’t ever want to miss Jesus!!

Running After Papa….

Jesus Responded (Luke 23:35-43)

I am reading the most amazing book on humility I’ve ever read. It is simply titled “Humility” and it was written by Andrew Murray in the late 1800s or early 1900s. It is a hard read because every paragraph is something to chew on. In light of Christ’s humility, I’ve often thought about the the crucifixion on the cross. Today, however, Papa gave me new insight into this very well-known account in Luke 23. He shed new light on humility vs. pride.

35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered … “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”

Jesus did not respond.

36-37 The soldiers also came up and mocked him… and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

Jesus did not respond.

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”

Jesus did not respond.

40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Jesus responded.

As I read passage today I found the various peoples responses to Christ amazing.

The Ruler – Judgment

Look first at the ruler’s sneering response. Their responses were based in judgment. They felt superior to Jesus.; He was messing up their long standing traditions and the status and clout they had attained through their lineage. I wrote about my struggle with judgment in a previous blog called “Bumper Stickers.” Judgment = Pride

The Soldiers – Doubt

Next look at the soldiers response. Their mocking was based in doubt of who he said he was… “If you are the king of the Jews…” In Matthew 4, Jesus is tempted by the devil during his 40 day fast. Two of the three temptations specifically begin with “If you are the Son of God…” The devil is certainly consistent. We see in Genesis while engaging in conversation with Eve, his tactic is creating doubt about what God really said and what he would really do.

Genesis 3:1-5 (NIV) Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”²The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, ³but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ”⁴“You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. ⁵“For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

The enemy never changes…  He the the original FUD machine (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt) and he never shys away from throwing it onto our pride. How does Pride relate to doubt, you ask? When we doubt what God says (what He says about who and what we are, what He says that He will do, what He says about He is, …) then we think we are smarter and know more than Him… Doubt = Pride.

The 1st Criminal – Selfish Motives

This passage does not differentiate between the crimes of the two criminals. All we know is that they are both going to be executed with Christ. I think this speaks volumes about us. It doesn’t matter what we’ve done. There is no “little sin” or “big sin”. Sin is Sin. It is all unholy and putrid to the nostrils of God. The only differences we see in the criminals, in this passage, is the attitude of their hearts.

Jesus said in Matthew 12

³³“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. ³⁴You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. ³⁵The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. ³⁶But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. ³⁷For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

The first criminal was only concerned with getting out of the mess he had gotten into.  He was getting his just rewards and deserved consequences. He wasn’t truly confessing that Jesus was the Christ, he was double-dog-daring him to prove it! He was only being selfish.

I know I’m guilty of throwing up the “flare prayers”, as I call them. “God… please, please, PLEASE get me out of this mess I have gotten into! I know I should have (listened to you, heeded the warning signs, prayed about this first, fill-in-the-blank), but I didn’t and I need you to bail me out… AGAIN!”

James 4:3 “When you ask, you do not receive because you ask with wrong motives…”

Selfishness is an easy attitude for us to take… Selfishness = Pride.

The 2nd Criminal – Humility

James 5:16 says we are to “… confess your sins to each other…” and 1 John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” In his rebuke of the first criminal, the 2nd Criminal confesses is guilt and unworthiness. He cries out for mercy hanging from the cross. And Jesus responds.

Take aways:

Am I exhibiting pride in any form of judgment, doubt, or selfish motive?
What is overflowing out of my heart? What words are coming out of my mouth?
Will I be acquitted or condemned by the words I speak? What am I speaking without my mouth?
Is Jesus responding or is he not responding?

Running After Papa…

Run On! (Rom 15:4-5)

Romans 15 (NIV)
4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus,

I am a marathon runner – not a particularly good one, mind you, but a marathon runner none the less. I began running a few years ago in a effort to get some personal discipline in my own life. I decided that about the only type of run I could set a goal for and not cram (a polite way of saying procrastinate – which is why I needed discipline in my life!) was by running a marathon.

I say that because anytime I run across the word “endurance” in Scripture, my eyes immediately draw to it. So I was drawn immediately to verse 4 this morning. Verse 4 is POWERFUL to me… if I might summarize… The Bible was written to teach me. If I will persist digging into God’s word, God himself will encourage me and the byproduct will be hope.

I think the endurance part doesn’t just relate to digging into God’s word, but in enduring the trials of life; in learning how to apply God’s word to every situation; in learning to hear God’s voice in the midst of the storm; in learning to be victorious by total surrender to Jesus Christ… because it is NOT easy!

James 1:2-4 (NIV) 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials
of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops
perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and
complete, not lacking anything.

James tells us that we ARE going to have trials and storms – “… of many kinds…”. Check out verse 4… if allowed to finish its work, perseverance will make us mature and complete. The Romans passage says God gives us endurance which leads to hope and unity. So – my question becomes – Does “maturity” and “completeness” – or my progression toward such – manifest itself as hope and unity with my brothers and sisters in Christ? Interesting question to ponder.

Endurance running has certainly changed my perspective on my Christian walk, both from a physical discipline as well as from an spiritual discipline. For me, a 20-30 minute run is less fulfilling than a 1-2 hour run. The same thing is happens in my spiritual walk – I’d rather spend a hour or more digging into the word than just reading a brief passage or a 5 minute devotional; memorizing a verse here and a verse there is much less satisfying than memorizing a chapter and whole book of the Bible; Consequently, if I don’t have an hour for study and memorization, then more times than not, I end up skipping with a mindset of I’ll “do it later” – again, another nice way to say “procrastinate.” (see first paragraph)

Having said that, I’ve let this attitude ruin my discipline. If you look at marathon training plans, there are more days of “short runs” than “long runs”. Usually there is only 1 or 2 days that include a “long run” (2+ hours). When I am diligent about the short runs, I’m in better condition for and enjoy my long run so much more. It’s the same in my spiritual life and this is extremely important. I need to spend time DAILY “training” myself and taking in the Word. Having 3-5 days of “short run” studies and readings tees up my “long run” days to be much more in-depth and fruitful. When I through the “short run” days, I am conditioned and have seeds of God’s word planted in my spirit that I can chew on and let God work in my heart so that on my “long run” day(s), I am ready to receive what He has to give me.

Another spiritual parallel to marathon training is this. In every marathon training program, the day after a “long run” is a scheduled “recovery day”. This is a day of either rest or a slow / easy jog or walk. Spiritually, I see this as a quiet day before the Lord – listening and reflecting on the week’s reading and what God is teaching me. I think this could be a day of fasting and prayer.

The more I write about this the more I am continually amazed at the parallels of endurance training and the Christian walk. Look for more in future blogs…

Today’s food for thought:

I need my daily “short runs”. Heb 12:1 (NIV) “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. “
I need my regular “recovery runs” to listen and quietly be before Papa. Heb 12:2-3 (NIV) “2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.“

When I consider, really consider the cross, the pain, the endurance that Christ demonstrated on my behalf, I am overwhelmed with His love, His mercy, His grace, and His compassion for me. It inspires me. It makes me want to be more like him. He becomes my hero, who I want to emulate. Praise God that I don’t have to do it on my own! I all I have to do is get out of the way and let Him take control.

Run on!

Running After Papa…

Bumper Stickers (Jas 2 & Rom 15:5-7)

As I was driving to work this morning, I began to notice the bumper stickers on everyone’s cars. Since it’s over 30 miles and over an hour one way, let’s just say I saw LOTS of bumber stickers!

I began to ponder why people – including myself – put bumper stickers on their cars. I am a Texas Aggie… and proud of it. I have my Texas A&M Former Student sticker on both cars. Why? Why do any of us put stickers on our cars? What causes us to put a sticky piece of $.05 plastic – that fades in the summer sun – on our automobiles – some of which cost a small fortune!

I believe it’s for basically one reason… …to somehow identify with someone or something out there.

Bumper stickers tell people about us: what we like, what we dislike, what we wish we were doing, what we support, what we don’t. Bumper stickers tell people what we’re proud of, how smart our kids are, how smart our dogs are. Bumper stickers tell others what kind of music and bands we listen to and what our favorite radio stations are. Bumper stickers tell people about our education (Gig’Em!), our beliefs, our passions and our fears. Bumper stickers tell all kinds of things about the owner of the car.

So… what bumper stickers are on your car? What do you tell your fellow commuters about yourself with your stickers?

Me? I tell them I graduated from Texas A&M. I tell them that we have family serving in Iraq and that we support our miltary. I thought about putting a plastic fish on my car to tell others about my faith, but after careful consideration and self evaluation, I decided not to! I want to glorify Christ in my actions, not bring shame to his name…

I find myself judging people by their stickers…. Yep… I said it. My guess is that you do too. When I started thinking about this, Papa reminded me what I had studied this morning as I read.

James 2:8-9 (NIV)
8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor
as yourself,”you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are
convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

I find myself classifying people into various catagories by their stickers. Some people, I immediately dismiss as ingnorant, stupid, a punk, selfish, “___________” (fill in the blank). Honestly, “stupid idiot” is THE most used utterance out of my mouth in reference to others on the road. My dad uses my personal favorite… “inbred moron” – it makes me laugh.

I find myself disliking people that I don’t even know because of their stickers… because of what they have chosen to identify with. I hate it when I do that. I really do. All that really matters is WHO we have chosen to identify with. There are two groups of humans in all the earth – those that know and trust Jesus Christ as their only salvation (we’ll call these “believers”), and those that don’t (“non-believers”). Everything else is insignificant. That which is on the outside of the car is not near as important as what’s on the inside of the car. People – and their eternal destiny – are the only thing that matter.

Romans 15:5-7 (NIV)
5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of
unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

God is encouraging me to live in unity with my brothers & sisters in Christ and to glorify Him in all ways. That addresses both classifications.

Accept fellow believers – however broken we might be (“… just as Christ accepted you…“) and
Show God’s glory to non-believers in unity at all times. In God’s uncanny wisdom, this is exactly opposite of how the world deals with believers. James 2:7 says that they “slander and blaspheme that precious name by which you are distinguished and called” (Amplified Version).

Of course, this is all a picture for me. The piece of plastic on the car is totally insignificant. It does draw a good picture for what I wear on my face and in my heart and in my attitude as I “commute” through this life. So in the context of my heart, Papa is asking me the following questions… questions that I really need to search out to find the answer to:

Am I identifiable (“distinguished and called“) with that precious name?
What “bumper stickers” do I wear on my self (metaphorically) that identifies me with Jesus Christ?
What old “stickers” do I need to take off that just don’t identify me with Christ – that send mixed and confusing messages to my fellow man?
Do the “stickers” of my life bring glory and praise to God?

Running After Papa,

Transformation Question… (Rom 12:2)

Romans 12:2

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

2 Corinthians 3:18

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Philippians 3:21

who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Professionally, I am in corporate software sales. That means I sell software to large corporations. Where I work now, the sales cycles are very long – 18 to 24 months to close one deal is not an uncommon expectation. In my profession, there is a saying that is fairly common and it is used to reflect on the day to make sure that I am always moving forward on closing a deal. It is very easy for a sales guy in my line of work, to lose focus or get distracted in trivial crap that doesn’t do much for moving opportunities forward to closure. So, daily I ask myself the following question: “What did I do today to move this deal forward ?“

I heard a song on the radio today that really struck me (hence today’s blog). It is by some new artist and the title is “I’m not who I was”… The premise of the song is similar to the “sales question” of the first paragraph. Each day I should not be the same person I was the day before! Each day, I should ask myself what I’ll call the “transformation question”, namely: “What did I do today that makes me more like Jesus than I was yesterday?”

It’s amazing how God coordinates all these seemingly unrelated and trivial things to rattle my brain and get my attention. Who would have thought how I do my job, a song on the radio this morning, and the chapter I read yesterday all had something in common?

So I’ll close by asking you:

What are you doing today to become more like Christ tomorrow?

Running After Papa…

He Is Able [Rom 4:17b]

Have you ever thought about why we go through what we go through?

Romans 4:17b
…the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.

I am constantly asking God why things happen, regardless of what it is: good, bad, hurtful, happy, freeing, scary, etc.

For the last several days we’ve faced some difficulties with one of our sons. Having been adopted a little over two years ago at the age of 15, he has struggled not only with the English language and school, but has struggled with inter-family relationships (particularly with my wife) and bonding into our family. He stated that the hardest thing for him is learning how to be in a family and his relationship with his (adopted) Mom.

This is not an uncommon issue for kids adopted late in life and raised by an institution for most of their lives. You see, our son was in the orphanage in Russia for 10 years, from ages 6 – 15. One would think that knowing about this issue would make it easier, as a parent. It would make us more understanding and more patient. Merely knowing it doesn’t make it any easier in the throws of life. I’ve really begun to understand how important it is to walk in someones shoes before even forming an opinion (a kind word for a judgement). Dawn and I are continually having to get on our face before Father God on behalf of our children and on our own behalf. There are days that we cry out for God’s love and strength for the day to flow through us because there is no way we can do it on our own.

A few days ago, this son, told us he no longer wanted to be here, in America, in our family. He wanted to go back to Russia and pick up his life there. As you can imagine, it broke our hearts. It also made us angry, to be so dismissed, so casually. I cannot tell you how amazing our God is. He orchestrates and moves things in HIS timing that would blow our feeble minds, were we to grasp it all. A long story short, Papa orchestrated many, many events over the last 5 days that have impacted our son. He has brought orphans from the same region in Russia to the states for 2 weeks who cannot believe our son would want to go back. They have shared with him how destitute and awful it is there, especially for orphans. Those kids who did not make it into a technical school (the lowest form of post-9th grade education) are on the streets turning to crime, drugs and prostitution. Many of them commit suicide. The prognosis of our son even surviving if he would have gone back were slim.

Romans 4:17b …the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.

We are thankful that he has changed his mind. We are believing for God to really grab his heart. We are praying for a Damascus Road type of experience, where God really rocks his world.

We still have many issues to deal with and he still has many decisions to make, but for today I am thankful to my Heavenly Father for his grace and mercy and orchestration in intervening on behalf of my son.

I am excited to see what Father is going to do with the last part of that verse, “… calls things that are not as though they were.“

Running After Papa…

Purposed Giving [2 Cor 9:6-15]

2 Corinthians 9:6, 7 (New International Version)

6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Father God hit me between the eyes this morning… (I love it when He does that!) Verse 7 says “… what he has decided in his heart to give…”

Look at how the Amplified and the Contemporary English Versions put it…

2 Cor 9:7

(AMP) Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver [whose heart is in his giving]. [Prov. 22:9.]

(CEV) Each of you must make up your own mind about how much to give. But don’t feel sorry that you must give and don’t feel that you are forced to give. God loves people who love to give.

God asked me the following question: “Have you specifically budgeted for and budgeted what your Giving?”

Personally, I have a lump catagory of “Tithes and Giving”, but I think I may be missing something. I know that my giving is not the same as my tithe. But my giving, aside from a building committment, is virtually unplanned and unprayed. My tithe is GIVING BACK to God what is ALREADY HIS. He owns the tithe and I either return it to Him or steal it from Him… but that’s not today’s blog.

Tithing is a discipline and expression of obedience. It’s a compulsory event (to use an Olympic metaphor). It’s a required element and I am either obedient or I’m not.
Giving, on the other hand, is the freestyle event. It’s required (I’ll address that later) but how and what I give are expressions of my devotion to and faith in Father God.

In verses 7 through 14, Paul describes a cycle… a cause and effect of purposeful giving.

PURPOSE (v7) leads to GRACE (v8)
GRACE leads to PROVISION (v10)
PROVISION leads to GENEROSITY (v11)
GENEROSITY leads to SUPPLYING NEEDS OF OTHERS (v12)
SUPPLYING NEEDS OF OTHERS leads to:

THANKS TO GOD (v12)
PRAISE TO GOD (v13)
PRAYERS AND AFFECTION OF OTHERS (v12)

If I purpose my giving, I am not “guilted” into giving to some other purpose – however noble or good it might be. It might even be where others have been led to give. What I’m learning about Father is he is most concerned about my heart and my obedience to Him. I want to direct my giving to those places where Papa wants MY giving to be directed. It gives me the freedom to say “no” because we’ve already prayed through it.

Once I’ve purposed my giving, v8 says that God is able to make all grace abound.

8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:
“He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”

I continually teach and reinforce my children the difference between Grace and Mercy. Grace is our getting a gift we do not deserve. Mercy is not getting a punishment we do deserve. Papa is able to give us what we don’t deserve so we might abound in what we do… our work (either vocationally or otherwise). Verse 10 says that God’s grace will supply all we need plus an increase in our “harvest” and v11 tells me that He does this so I will have plenty IN ORDER TO BE GENEROUS on every occasion.

10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

When I am generous, a few things happen:

Those receiving are thankful to God. It is so important that as I give, I give all the glory to Father, my provider. I must give in humility and not succumb to pride. If I take all the glory, then how will others know to thank God? If they thank me, then I am stealing thanks from Father.
The gift supplies the needs of God’s people. Verse 12 brings up an interesting question. What about gifts outside of ministry to God’s people – in other words, gifts to the performing arts, gifts to medical research, etc. These are all worthy and noble pursuits. It definitely requires Father’s leading.

12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.
There is also praise to our Father when we give. Verse 13 says it is because of our obedience and generosity. Earlier I said that giving is required and this is were I draw that from. Nowhere in verse 7 does it say that giving is optional. It says we are to give and the option is how much and how to. Here is were obedience comes in. God calls us to give generously. We obey. Again… it’s all a heart issue. He doesn’t care about the amount. He wants us to give cheerfully. He already owns everything, so the amounts are not important to Him.

13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.

Now, follow me on this, our purposing before we give also reflects our faith in His ability to provide for that purpose. Paul says in verse 8 that Father is able “… in all things at all times, having all that you ne
ed…”. Three “alls” in one sentance…. what do you think he’s saying? When we purpose before hand… before we have the money, or time, or ______ (fill in the blank), we trust that God will provide whatever it is so that we might give generously. That is so cool!!!!
Finally, when we are obedient and generous, the recipients of those gifts respond with affection and prayers for us.

14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

I don’t know about you, but seeing people grateful for a gift and thanking God and praising God and praying for me (the conduit of the gift), encourages me and my faith grows. It makes me want to do it again and because my faith is bigger, I will purpose more gifts knowing my Father in Heaven will supply.

TAKE AWAYS:

TITHE – this is the basic building block. I cannot give if I am not tithing. If I give before I tithe, then I am giving God’s money to something other than him – which is putting something before God – which is idolatry.
PRAY & PURPOSE MY GIVING – I am going to create various designated giving catagories, and an undesignated catagory for special needs and donations that I do not yet know about.
GENEROUSLY PLAN AND EXPECT GOD TO PROVIDE
BE GENEROUS TO OTHERS IN OBEDIENCE
HONOR GOD IN THE GIFT – I will not steal HIS due glory.

Running After Papa…