Calling

My daughter went out to ride her bike in the parking lot. I watched her through the window for a few minutes and then turned my attention away. Looking back two minutes later I saw her bike parked in the driveway but she was not with it. 

.

Minutes later I still did not see her so I opened the front door and called for her. 

No answer. 

I walked to the back door, opened it and called for her. 

No answer. 

Walking through the house, back toward the front door, I called for her. 

No answer.  

Stepping out the front door, into the driveway, I called for her. 

No answer. 

Scanning the parking lot, the front yard, and the side yards, I called for her.

No answer.

Running to the back yard, looking in the pool and into the woods, I called for her.

No answer.

Back inside, frantically running from room to room, I called for her.

No answer.

Through the front door again, panicked in the front yard, I called for her.

No answer. 

.

Turning toward the swing set there she now stood - smiling and waving - without a word.

.

So I asked;

Did you hear me call for you?

Why didn’t you answer me?

.

And I wondered;

How often does God call for me?

How often do I hear Him call?

How often do I answer Him?

#preparetheway

Here I Am

 

This week I've been focused on the call of the prophet Isaiah. More specifically, I've been focused on Isaiah's response to God's call on him. 

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” 

Isaiah‬ ‭6:8

We read this same passage on Sunday morning and the challenge given to our church family was to daily read this passage and to daily respond to God's call, "Here I am. Send me!"

Just this morning, as I read this passage again, I was reminded of the call of Moses - and of Moses' response to God's call on him. 

So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.”

Exodus‬ ‭3:3-4‬

Similar to Isaiah, Moses responds, "Here I am.", yet Moses' response stops there. Moses tells God, essentially, "I am present", but his commitment to God is lacking. 

But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

‭Exodus‬ ‭3:11‬

Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?

Exodus‬ ‭3:13‬

Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?

Exodus‬ ‭4:1‬

Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”

‭Exodus‬ ‭4:10‬

But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else."

‭Exodus‬ ‭4:13‬

Moses responds, "Here I am. Who am I that I should go? What would I say? What if they don't listen? What if they don't believe me? I'm not a good speaker? Please send someone else." 

God call each one of us. He has a specific purpose and path for every individual that He has created and given life to. And when God calls us, we are challenged to respond to His call, "Here I am. Send me!", just as Isaiah did. 

Yet, believers in Christ mimic the response - the attitude, the actions, and even the words - of Moses; "Here I am. Send someone else."

Week after week, believers show up in church buildings and respond "I am present" but when God calls them to worship - when God calls them to share - when God calls them to love - when God calls them to go  - they respond "Not me.". 

"Present" is not acceptable! It's time - now more than ever - for The Church to hear the call of God and respond - in a bold voice, "Here I am. Send me!" 

Let the response begin with you. Let it begin today. 

RESET

Some days I want to hit the "RESET" button.

Some days, things seem to overly complicated and I find myself overburdened and struggling to fix the mess that surrounds me. 

Other days, things just aren't going right and I want to go back to the beginning of the day and start over. 

Have you ever wanted to hit the "RESET" button? 

Often I look at The Church in America and I want to hit the "RESET" button. 

Some days I look at the operation of The Church and I can't help but recognize that we have overly complicated the call - we are overburdened and struggling and we need to fix the mess. Other times I look at the ministry of The Church and I can't help but wonder if we need to start over in order to remember the mission that we have been called to. 

Often I look at The Church in America and I want to hit the "RESET" button. 

Let me introduce "RESET". A mission to refocus The Church on the call.

 

Watch for more soon. And watch for your opportunity to join me on this mission. 

Promised To Abram

Reading from Genesis 12 this morning I was reminded of Abram and the promises that God established with him. 

I will make you into a great nation.

I will bless you.

I will make your name great.

I will make you a blessing.

I will bless those who bless you.

I will curse those who curse you.

I will bless all people through you. 

So, Abram left, as the Lord had told him to. Abram followed the call and the command of God and he set off for the land that God had promised to him. 

But, due to a famine in the land, Abram and his wife Sarai stopped in Egypt. And, despite all the protection and provision that God had promised him, Abram was afraid and decided to take matters into his own hands. 

As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife, Sarai, "I know what a beautiful woman you are. When Egyptians see you they will say, 'This is his wife.' Then they will kill me but will let you live. Say you are my sister, so that I would be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you."

Just to be clear, Abram, knowing God's promise - His plan, His protection, and His provision - was afraid for his life. And, out of fear and lost faith. Abram then decided that it would be best to abandon God's promises and give up his wife to save his own skin. This is not just selfish, this is sinful. 

And yet, we find ourselves doing this daily. Perhaps we don't act to this degree, yet we often abandon what God has called and commanded us to and act in our own wisdom. Perhaps we don't act to this degree, yet we often treat our loved ones abusively - emotionally, verbally, or physically - out of selfishness. 

Let us consider this account of Abram's life as an example. Let us remember on what God has called and commanded us to. Let us focus on God's promises - His plan, His protection, and His provision - over us.

I Think I'll Call My Mom

I haven't called my mom at all this week. Last week I probably called my mom 30 times.

My grandfather passed away last week and I was putting the funeral service together. So, I called my mom several times to run over details about the funeral, and gather information from her. Also, As we were grieving the loss of my grandfather has a family, I felt the need to call her more then normal and just talk.

But, as I think about it now, I haven't called my mom at all this week. She sent me a text message late last week and said she missed hearing my voice. Apparently she too was aware of the increase in the number of phone calls that I gave her last week.

I sometimes wonder if this is how God feels. That when we have a drastic change in our life - something that we are anxious or disturbed over, something that we sense an increased burden or stress over - or if we need something from him, then we call him more than normal. Yet, when things seem to be going just fine in our lives then we somehow forget to call on him, we forget to go before his throne and just visit a little while.

Perhaps it's normal that when things in our lives have changed, when we are anxious or disturbed, when we are heavy burdened or stressed, that we go before God more than normal. But, let us not forget to go before God's throne regularly, let us not forget to visit with him often.

I'm going to go now, I have to pray. And then, I think I'll call my mom.

God Is In The Room

This picture is the wallpaper on my laptop. An artist, with the assistance of a smoke machines, has found a way to produce clouds indoors and has taken several stunning pictures. And while these pictures are quite remarkable I could not help but think of one thing as I looked at them; "God is in the room". 

SEE, no matter where we are, no matter what we are doing God is in the room with us. God is all-present or omnipresent, meaning that He is in all places at all times - that is one of the characteristics that defines Him as God.

AND, because God is omnipresent, He is here for us when we need Him the most. Likewise, He is there when we would rather Him not be, that is when we are doing things that we know He does not approve of - when we are doing things contrary to His will and His purpose.

YET, if we could simply remember that "God is in the room" with every decision that we make, every action that we take, every thought that we think, and every word that we speak, we would do better to obey His will and fulfill His purpose.

AND, although we do not have the benefit of seeing God in the form of a visible cloud in the room with us at every moment of the day, what we do have is His Spirit living in us and working through us. Through God's Spirit we are able to achieve all that God has called us to, all that He has desired for us, and all that He has created us for.

Being Children of God

1 Peter 1:13-16 states; "Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy."


There are several words that stand out as we read 1 Peter 1:13-16, but one stands out the most – "CHILDREN" – we are God’s children. Think about this remarkable truth for a moment;  It is God’s desire that we be His children.

 But, God has a broader desire than that we simply be His children.  So He gives us several adjectives in 1 Peter to tell us what kind of children He desires for us to be.

• Obedient children; Following His commands and directives for our lives – because they are what are best for us.
•  Prepared children; Prepared for action today and prepared for heaven tomorrow.
• Active children; Active in the body of Christ.
• Self-controlled children; Self-controlled and disciplined
• Hopeful children; Hopeful and faithful that Jesus Christ will return and all glory will be given to Him. 
• Alert children; Informed in the wills and ways of God - Alert and conscience of the evil in this world
• Called children; Called by God and set apart for a special purpose.
• Holy children; Without holiness no one will see God. 

Such a Time As This

On Tuesday evenings my wife and I host a small group at our home and it is typical for us to prepare coffee for our guests. Last night I decided to prepare the coffee at the church rather than at our house and, for whatever reason, I decided to go over and start the coffee just as the rest of the family sat down for dinner.

As I was finishing the coffee I heard a pipe burst in the restroom and ran in to investigate. What I found was a toilet overflowing, water shooting into the air, and about an inch of water on the ground.

As I completed the cleanup it occurred to me how much damage this burst pipe would have caused of I had stuck to the normal routine. No one would have noticed the gushing water for 15 hours!

Then it struck me; I was here for such a time as this. The same can be said of each one of us, we are here at this time, in this place for such a time as this. Each of us has a purpose and a calling to fulfill. But, none of us will ever know what our purpose is unless we are listening for and listening to The One that had created us, determined our purpose, and guided our path.

Are you listening for and listening to The One that leads you to such a time as this?

It Was A Week before Christmas...

It was the week before Christmas
And all through the church
People sung about Jesus
While others just searched
 
It was the week before Christmas
And I sat in my pew
Focusing on Christ’s birth
It was the least I could do

It was the week before Christmas

Still a lot on my mind
Things to be wrapped up
And others to find

It was the week before Christmas

And I sat in my pew
Christ called me to action
Said; “go, I’m calling you”

It was the week before Christmas
And God pulled on my heart
Said, this is my message
Now go, do your part

It was the week before Christmas

And I sat in my pew
God’s message was clear
Now what will I do

Trikes, Bikes, and Jesus

Years ago I remember the joy (and frustration) of taking our oldest daughter out to teach her to ride a tricycle. Until these early moments of training with my daughter, I never realized just how much strength and skill went into riding a trike. First comes the strength to push the pedals to keep the trike moving forward, then comes the strength to take off from a dead stop, then comes the strength and ability to steer the trike, and finally, the coordination to take off from a dead stop, propel the trike forward, keep the trike moving forward consistently, steer the trike and keep it on a smooth path, and watch for dangers around you.   

Well, our daughter has learned how to ride the tricycle, she has moved on to a bike with training wheels and very soon we will be removing the training wheels from her bike. It has been great to watch her grow in strength, coordination, and balance as she has mastered the skills of bike riding

Robert Tuttle wrote that the "Christian walk is much like riding a bicycle; we are either moving forward or falling off". There is a great deal of truth to this statement. God calls us to so much more than simply sitting still and getting by.

What if we, as Christians were happy with sitting still and just getting by? Well, it would be much like a person that learned how to ride a trike and decided to stay on the trike for the rest of their lives, relying on this small, three-wheeled vehicle for all of their transportation needs. Can you imagine a bunch of grown men and women riding tricycles to and from work on a daily basis? Quite a comical sight, you must admit.

And, if you have ever taught someone to ride a tricycle or a bicycle, or if you have ever tried to teach yourself, you understand how much time, patience, training, and concentration it requires. Likewise, you understand that it comes with its share of bumps, bruises, and scrapes and that it requires some level of risk taking and discomfort.

It is the same with the Christian journey. Many come to Jesus Christ, accepting His call to repentance and the love, joy, and hope that He brings to their lives. But, Christ call His followers to continue to  "strict training" in His ways (1 Corinthians 9). Likewise, Christ calls His followers to be disciplined (Hebrews 12) and to endure the bumps, bruises, and scrapes that come with following Him. Then, many of Christ's followers are called to a level of risk and discomfort, called to follow the will of Jesus and give up everything for Him (Acts 15).

You see, standing still is not an option, you are either moving forward or your falling down. You will not get anywhere by simply getting on the bike if you are not willing to ride it. And riding takes training, patience, and endurance. But the destination is well worth the training and the ride.

He is in control

I read this morning in "My Utmost for His Highest"

"If Jesus Christ is bringing you into the understanding that prayer is for the glorifying of His Father, He will give you the first sign on His intimacy - silence."

Our church family enjoys many of the benefits and blessings that members of a mega-church might never find. We know one another on a first-name basis, we share prayer requests and praises on a weekly basis, we share in meals with one another at the church and our homes on a regular basis. I truly enjoy being the Pastor of this church body and consider it a true blessing to belong to this family.

Our average attendance on a Sunday morning is around 70. I spoke last week about being "content" with the size of our church family from the aspect of being complete, lacking no one, while at the same time being discontent with the number of people within our community and the world that do not know Christ or have a church home of their own. This is a wonderful concept and one that our church family embraced. Yet, as the Pastor, I found it very difficult to buy into my own words. You see, I want our church to grow, I want to see the seats packed every time we gather together, I want to see our numbers climb at an alarming rate, so much so that people within our community take notice and want to join in a become a part of it.

This past week we had 59 in our Sunday morning worship service. As I came to the church this morning I was a bit down, much like our numbers were yesterday. Yet these words from my devotional hit me where I needed it the most, MY PRIDE!

The question I must ask is: Why do I have the desire for our church to grow?" Well, I want the church to grow so that Christ may be glorified, so that His name is brought honor, and so that others may be brought closer to Him and know Him as their Master and Savior. This should be the desire of our hearts if we are striving to please God and fulfill the ministry that He has called each one of us to.

So, if this is the desire of our hearts we need to be more open to what the Spirit is leading us to. We need to be content with the number we have on a Sunday morning with the understanding that this is who God has called us to minister to on this given day.

If God has called us to a church of 60, 40, 20, or even 10, to Him be the glory! No one knows better than He does who will gain from the ministry done at this time, in the place, and with these words. Know one knows better than He does what gifts we have, what gifts we lack, what lessons we need to learn, and how we need to learn them.

This is just one more time I was reminded that God is in complete control and I need to let go and allow Him to have it. Completely!