Take me out of the net that they have secretly set for me . . .
- Psalm 31
This past week, I finally achieved two financial objectives that had been vexing me for the better part of a decade. They were two major bills that are now paid in full, resulting in a savings of around $300 each month. This of course, means a huge benefit in my taking care of family and my favorite charities. And the peace of mind is no small thing!
I have learned to play information like this close to the vest. You really don't want people to know that suddenly you have a lot of extra money you did not have before! It is human nature, but they will begin expecting you to do more financially, than you had before. But that is not necessarily the case.
Almost to the day that my improved situation had been confirmed, two big things happened: A one-time family expense hit, in the amount of $800, that I needed right away; and car work that could be put off no longer, which so far is at $300.
So, I am $300 better off, but need $1,100 right now. I had begun tithing more, contributing a little more to other debts, treating family a little more. I entrusted those funds to the Lord, and said "Please bless the use of these, Your funds." So then, why did major devastating expenses have to come just then?
No telling. But right away the pressure hit me, from the usual sources, to do a better job with my money; to "follow through" on other expectations I had set. And so now, having proclaimed my new-found independence, I had to continue acting like I had no money.
And this, in the Bible, is called a "snare."
The secret net, meant to trap people that have struggled with money, is an onslaught of sudden, unexpected emergencies. In some cases, I lost my temper, or composure, in discussing all of this with others. This is letting myself be trapped in the snare.
I am moving forward more and more into God's plan for me. My worries about money have ensnared me for years "Lord, I'll do more when I don't have all these bills." But the time for salvation is NOW.
Decide to act for the Lord, even if you have problems. Leave it in God's hands, and Go.
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Monday, May 12, 2014
Really, Now . . . What's Possible?
Filled with the Holy Spirit, Stephen gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!"
- Acts 7
I read this passage today, and maybe for the first time, it hit me:
Stephen actually saw Jesus, who had died, rose again, and ascended into Heaven.
What conditions were necessary for him to see Jesus? First, he had to be filled with the Holy Spirit. And next, perhaps . . . he had to be close to death.
But what is this faith that, when it is full and complete, actually enables people to see Jesus; not a vision, not a dream . . . but Jesus himself? Whatever it is, Stephen had it. He believed completely, without an ounce of doubt. His mind, heart, and soul had been so emptied out of worldliness and doubt, which enabled the Holy Spirit to fill him completely, so that he could see the eternal realm.
What do doubters think? They will insist it was a dream. Or maybe he saw what he wanted to see: The clouds were in a formation that made the sunlight brilliant, and as he looked up, in a state of emotional euphoria (brought on by too much oxygen), the branches of a tree, or bird flying overhead, looked for a moment like the silhouette of Christ. Or maybe he made it up. Maybe Stephen lied.
But what would be the point of that? When we finally get it right, or that is, when God finally reveals the true plan of salvation for humanity, you can expect this sort of thing to happen. These things happen because Stepehen's belief was powerful enough to make it so. We only know a slight fraction of the wonders of the Universe. Why do we make excuses when something comes along we can't explain?
Stephen believed . . . and saw. And we take it as true because . . . we believe.
And perhaps the Son of God will likewise reveal Himself to us, at a time we do not expect!
- Acts 7
I read this passage today, and maybe for the first time, it hit me:
Stephen actually saw Jesus, who had died, rose again, and ascended into Heaven.
What conditions were necessary for him to see Jesus? First, he had to be filled with the Holy Spirit. And next, perhaps . . . he had to be close to death.
But what is this faith that, when it is full and complete, actually enables people to see Jesus; not a vision, not a dream . . . but Jesus himself? Whatever it is, Stephen had it. He believed completely, without an ounce of doubt. His mind, heart, and soul had been so emptied out of worldliness and doubt, which enabled the Holy Spirit to fill him completely, so that he could see the eternal realm.
What do doubters think? They will insist it was a dream. Or maybe he saw what he wanted to see: The clouds were in a formation that made the sunlight brilliant, and as he looked up, in a state of emotional euphoria (brought on by too much oxygen), the branches of a tree, or bird flying overhead, looked for a moment like the silhouette of Christ. Or maybe he made it up. Maybe Stephen lied.
But what would be the point of that? When we finally get it right, or that is, when God finally reveals the true plan of salvation for humanity, you can expect this sort of thing to happen. These things happen because Stepehen's belief was powerful enough to make it so. We only know a slight fraction of the wonders of the Universe. Why do we make excuses when something comes along we can't explain?
Stephen believed . . . and saw. And we take it as true because . . . we believe.
And perhaps the Son of God will likewise reveal Himself to us, at a time we do not expect!
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
The Impossible Path to Success
. . . and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
- Acts 2
I want you to notice two inescapable realities of the Second Chapter of Acts. We celebrate this chapter, as the high point of Church history. The Church, as you know, was barely days, if not hours, old!
But like the birth of a new child, it was where life was at its fullest and most perfect. Everything functioning naturally, without assistance. It has not yet been soiled by the fulfillment of physical needs (no earthly food has entered its mouth yet). It has not involved itself with the world. No interactions with others. No exposure to evil, to pornography, to violence, to hate.
It is in a haven of full acceptance, and boldness. When the baby inhales deeply and lets out his or her first cry, it is most fully alive. And, while experiences, success, and happiness should follow, they do so with the attendant worry and angst.
So is the Church at its first day. It is growing like crazy, and roaring out its birth cries, drawing people to it like the miracle that it is.
And we think we can somehow get the modern Church back to that model!
First, we're not about to do the things that I did not quote above: make all things common. Meet every day. Not gonna happen.
But if we did that . . . truly did as Jesus would do . . . I have no doubt there would be miracles. Prove me wrong! You can't, because no Church would dare do that much. We're not about to share all of our possessions with one another.
But if we did . . . we would have the goodwill of all the people. Did you catch that? Wouldn't that be great? Isn't this what we crave? And if you want to know why we don't have that kind of goodwill, from everybody, then just read the rest of this chapter and notice what's missing.
The world knows our values. It knows our standard of perfection, to which we never reach. It knows we're supposed to be doing lots of charitable, loving, selfless deeds, and when we don't, it points its finger at us. It's like an overly-wise teenager pointing out his parents' own hypocrisy. You want to lash back in anger, but you know he's right.
Having the goodwill of everybody naturally leads to daily growth in the Church. If your Church grew every day, it would have at least 365 more members, one year from today.
The formula for such success is easy . . . simple.
- Acts 2
I want you to notice two inescapable realities of the Second Chapter of Acts. We celebrate this chapter, as the high point of Church history. The Church, as you know, was barely days, if not hours, old!
But like the birth of a new child, it was where life was at its fullest and most perfect. Everything functioning naturally, without assistance. It has not yet been soiled by the fulfillment of physical needs (no earthly food has entered its mouth yet). It has not involved itself with the world. No interactions with others. No exposure to evil, to pornography, to violence, to hate.
It is in a haven of full acceptance, and boldness. When the baby inhales deeply and lets out his or her first cry, it is most fully alive. And, while experiences, success, and happiness should follow, they do so with the attendant worry and angst.
So is the Church at its first day. It is growing like crazy, and roaring out its birth cries, drawing people to it like the miracle that it is.
And we think we can somehow get the modern Church back to that model!
First, we're not about to do the things that I did not quote above: make all things common. Meet every day. Not gonna happen.
But if we did that . . . truly did as Jesus would do . . . I have no doubt there would be miracles. Prove me wrong! You can't, because no Church would dare do that much. We're not about to share all of our possessions with one another.
But if we did . . . we would have the goodwill of all the people. Did you catch that? Wouldn't that be great? Isn't this what we crave? And if you want to know why we don't have that kind of goodwill, from everybody, then just read the rest of this chapter and notice what's missing.
The world knows our values. It knows our standard of perfection, to which we never reach. It knows we're supposed to be doing lots of charitable, loving, selfless deeds, and when we don't, it points its finger at us. It's like an overly-wise teenager pointing out his parents' own hypocrisy. You want to lash back in anger, but you know he's right.
Having the goodwill of everybody naturally leads to daily growth in the Church. If your Church grew every day, it would have at least 365 more members, one year from today.
The formula for such success is easy . . . simple.
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Precious Death
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his servants.
- Psalm 116
How can a loving God . . . ?
Well, that statement is always completed with some reference to death, or disease, famine, want. But really those problems only have resonance because they lead to death.
How can any kind of death be precious to the Lord? Isn't death the last enemy to be destroyed? Isn't death our punishment for sin?
Perhaps we need to take off our 21st Century understanding of "precious" as something cute, or cuddly, or adorable. Think of "precious," as in, a precious metal. It is something you want to protect, to keep, to save. You do not want harm to come to something precious.
When a servant of the Lord dies, God's interest piques. He goes into action. He engages the everlasting arms, and keeps you safe, away from all danger. You are home-free. His dead servants have His full attention. He can't wait to rouse you from sleep, back into life.
So then, the point is not to evade death (shame on you, narcissistic modern Americans!). Rather, make it your prime objective, to became a servant of the Lord! That way, when you die (for we will all die anyway), you will transform that horrible event into something the Lord considers precious.
- Psalm 116
How can a loving God . . . ?
Well, that statement is always completed with some reference to death, or disease, famine, want. But really those problems only have resonance because they lead to death.
How can any kind of death be precious to the Lord? Isn't death the last enemy to be destroyed? Isn't death our punishment for sin?
Perhaps we need to take off our 21st Century understanding of "precious" as something cute, or cuddly, or adorable. Think of "precious," as in, a precious metal. It is something you want to protect, to keep, to save. You do not want harm to come to something precious.
When a servant of the Lord dies, God's interest piques. He goes into action. He engages the everlasting arms, and keeps you safe, away from all danger. You are home-free. His dead servants have His full attention. He can't wait to rouse you from sleep, back into life.
So then, the point is not to evade death (shame on you, narcissistic modern Americans!). Rather, make it your prime objective, to became a servant of the Lord! That way, when you die (for we will all die anyway), you will transform that horrible event into something the Lord considers precious.
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