These walls will be destroyed - Mark 13-14

We just boat a new boat (new to us) and I was admiring it they other day. I was thinking of how big it is compared to our old boat (we live on it most of the year) and that it was designed in such a great way. Then I read Mark 13:1-2 this morning. I discovered that the disciples, as well, admired material things. They commented to Jesus at how wonderful the Temple looked. They admired the architecture. They thought the stones looked good on top of one another. Jesus, however, quickly gives them the reality of what was going to happen with that Temple and what was going to happen after that. Jesus puts these comments in perspective. In the backdrop of what is going to happen in the future at Christ's return the fine built temple has little to offer. Same with my boat. The shinny new things we admire will be nothing when Christ returns. We can all be turned away from Christ's agenda by shinny new things. We all think about these temporial things as though we had them forever. God is the only thing forever. We ought not, like the disciples, even look at the buildings people worship in as having some significant right of our admiration. Only Christ can and should deserve our praise and admiration. Let's not get carried away by stone, metal, fiberglass, wood, vinyl, chrome, or plastic. Let's focus on the person of Jesus Christ and rejoice in His coming again.

Hammer Time - Jeremiah 22-26

Jeremiah 23:29 “Is not My word like fire?” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer which shatters a rock?" Jeremiah was sent to the nation of Israel to prophesy what God was about to do to the nation. He ministered, delivering the Word of the Lord, for 23 years, at least (25:3). During that time the peop;le refused to listen; the false teachers taught the opposite of the words the Lord told him to say; and they attempted to have him killed. Now that is the sign of a "successful" ministry. In our world today we would be counseling Jeremiah to make a career move. Maybe he could go into sales! Or, maybe he was a better "fit" to do warehouse inventory or write software programs. Jeremiah, by the world's standards, did not have a succesful ministry. He had only a few followers and a few believers who would heed his teaching. He was sent to the house of Isreal with a message to give in and go willingly into captivity. Most of us, if we were there, would probably not listen. If a prophet came today and told us to give in to China and don't resist but willingly go into captivity, what would we do? Of course, we don't have the commission Israel did, but I trust you get my point. Few listened to Jeremiah and even fewer obeyed. But, here is the power of God's Word. Is it not a "fire" and is it not a "Hammer?" God's Word, according to Hebrews 4:12 is powerful, quick, cutting, discerning and dividing. Is it any wonder today we have authors trying to water it all down? Is it any wonder today we have people with itching ears wanting to have a list of "how to" do something every Sunday morning rather than how to "obeying Someone?" God's Word is a fire and a hammer. Those are two instruments that can be used for good or bad. A fire can warm the heart and a hammer can build a shelter. Or, a fire can destroy the shelter and a hammer can wound the heart. God's Word, to those who recieved it (just as in Jeremiah's day) can and is a shelter and a warmth to the soul to those who submit to it and to those who desire its message. However, to those who reject God and who want to do their own thing, God's word is a fire to burn their soul and a hammer to crush their confidence and security. Many rejected God's Word in Jeremiah's day. His ministry looked the worse for that. However, he was sent, like us, to deliver the hammer and the fire. How it was received was not up to Jeremiah. That was up to his audience. He was simply to deliver the hammer and the fire.

Out of the mouth of babes - Job 32-34

Up until now we have heard from six characters in this one act play. Satan has confronted God about His servant Job. Job has been afflicted, as a test, by the hand of God to see how he would react. Job's three friends, Elihu, Zophar and Bildad have all tired to "coach" Job and get his mind straight about this diaster that has afflicted him. As each of Job's frineds took a turn to coach him, none were able to provide an adequate answer that Job did not refute. However, in Job's refuting, he made a serious error: Rather than focus on God he focused on himself and actually justified himself. We didn't know it as we read the story but a young man named Elihu was standing by watching and observing. He didn't want to talk and offer his words because he realized that old age should speak. Yet, he can no longer hold his tongue - he is about to burts (32:15-22). He wants to offer counsel to Job despite who he is. That is a lesson in and of itself, but the real lesson is how he offers counsel. When you read chapter 33 you here sense of empathy and humility. Elihu, unlike the three older men, doesn't come across as arrogant or condemning to Job. He relates to Job and wants Job to know that he simply wants to offer an answer about His God that Job should consider. He doesn't condemn Job but he begins in humility talking to Job about God. Perhaps we can all take a lesson here. When we are coaching someone who is in a bad spot we should always begin with God and not focus on the problem. We should focus on the solution. Job's older friends focused on what was wrong with Job. The young man, Elihu, focused on the solution for Job. Take a lesson from the young man for your own play book on how to coach and how to counsel another. Be humble, be empathetic, don't condemn, be direct, but focus on the solution not the problem. In our society today we spend so much time analyzing the problem we fail to see and spend time on the solution: God's amazing grace and love and power.

Thanksgiving for Salvation - Psalm 48-50

In these three Psalms we have three praise chapters. Psalm 48 is a praise for the City of Zion - Jerusalem, who will produce the Savior. Psalm 49 is the praise for the salvation only found in Christ, the work done by the Savior. And, in Psalm 50 we have praise for thanksgiving for all God has done for us, through the life of our Savior. These are Psalms of praise reminding us to praise God for our Salvation. You wonder why we have to reminded to praise God for our Salvation? One reason we forget the greatness of our salvation is that we forget how desperate and lost we were. Christians tend to think they are blessed and even "deserve" to be saved. Those who think they had a piece or part in their salvation lose out on the perfect praise that can be offered because they "had a part" in it - to save themselves. In Psalm 49 especially we see the plight of the lost. Their wealth, power or prestige cannot save them. They are lost and God has rescued them through His divine grace. Today we ought to praise the King for all that He has done - especially our salvation. Do we take time each day to praise Him for saving us - I don't think most Christians go through the day thanking God for their salvation. It is time to start.

Don't rejoice over a fallen enemy - 2 Samuel 1-4

Proverbs 24:17, 18 - "Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; Or the Lord will see it and be displeased, and turn His anger away from him." These are the words of Solomon, the son of David. These are great proverbs to commit to memory so that we are not caught in the worlds philosophical blunder of revenge and reprisal. We may wonder were Solomon came up with such a proverb. He easily could have read the account of his father David's transition into his kingship in 2 Samuel 1-4 and heard from his father first hand about David's practicing in life what son would eventually pen in Scriptures. David was not about to rejoice when his enemy fell. In fact, if you read his lament in chapter one of 2 Samuel you see the opposite: Rather than rejoicing over the death of his enemy, Saul, he rejoices over the mightiness of Saul's life. Later he does the same in the case of Abner's death, Saul's right hand warrior. And again when someone kills Saul's son - David will not join in the destruction of his enemy. David knew that God puts one leader up and takes another down. But, he also knew that God was in charge of that process and not David. We often look to rejoice when someone who is our foe has trouble or gets hurt or is disappointed. But, David gives us a great example of what his son eventually penned: Don't rejoice over a fallen enemy.

Sometimes the hard way - Exodus 13-16

Given the choice, most people take the easy path. They take the path that others trod so that they aren't the ones trampling through thorns and brush. We love to take the easy road. This is why Christ said that "Broad is the way that leads to destruction," everyone is on it because it looks easy and it well worn. So, if others are on it than it must be good. The same is true for the nation of Israel. God decided to not allow them to go the easy way in their escape from Egypt. In 13:17-20 we read that God didn't let them go the easy road, least they get involved in a war too soon. God took them out of the way and off the path so that He might show them more fully His power and strength (Chapter 14). He had more things to show them. Sometime we wish we had the easy route in life. Too many come to Christ thinking they will find the easy life. That is not Biblical Christianity. When we are in Christ we are often asked to take the road less traveled and on that road God has great miracles to show us; if we will but listen and watch and learn. God is looking to show us His power and His wonders. He likes to do it on the off road and the obscure path. The next time you are on a peculiar path ask if this is the place God is going to show you some great and marvelous burning bush experience; or rescue you from a pit for of lions; or save you from a furnace of fire; or rescue you as you walk on the water with Him. God often does great things when we are in places no one else has gone for Him!

Your toil is not in vain - 1 Corinthians 15-16

The work of the ministry (of serving Christ) is the most demanding of all labor. Those who have decided to take up the cross and follow Christ have chosen a life of demand and, at times, great discouragement. Christ said we would be hated by this world (John 17); that we would suffer (Luke 23); and, that the enemy of this world desires to sift us like wheat (Luke 22:31). Even our own brothers - those who know the Lord - desert us and defect to the other side. Those who do Christian ministry as a vocation find themselves often alone and unable to share deep spiritual battles for fear of judgment or even dismissal from service - and certainly a lost of credibility and power in ministry. Yet, we are to put a smile on the face and joy in the step. We are often criticized for the hypocrites we are and, yet, often called upon to be there when someone needs us, as though God's right hand servant. It is for this reason I believe Paul wrote the words in 1 Corinthians 15:58. He had just explained the entire point of the resurrection of Christ and how that gives us the one hope we have - we don't live for the issues of today but what is in store for us tomorrow. As a result of knowing the resurrection of Christ we can know as a fact that our toil and labor are not in vain, "in the Lord." We might all want to give up and give in at some time. But, it is God who is our strength and who takes our meager efforts and turns them into works of grace for eternity.

It is all summed up - March 11-12

Brevity is a sign of a great speaker. The ability to say complex things of gravity and of meaning in a short and concise message is an art. That is what makes the Proverbs, as an example, so powerful. Short pithy saying of real meaning. Some people simply go on and on and think they will be heard for their much speaking. I can be that way. Pithy is not in my wheel house. Take these devotionals, for instance, they are longer than needed because of my lack of skill. Christ was not like this, however, in his earthly meeting. When asked which of the 400 plus commandments was the greatest He didn't give us His top ten list. Nor did He try to outline them by systematic section. I have a set of Systematic Theology books on my shelf that consists of seven volumes. Mankind is not short with our answers. But, the Creator of language is. He sums up the entire first five books of the Old Testament in two phrases: Love God with all your heart, soul and mind and love your neighbor as yourself. Short, concise, to the point and complete. The irony is that men have written commentary after commentary on Christ's summary statement. Go figure. It all boils down to whether we are loving God completely and loving man sincerely. I am not going to say any more about it. That pretty much sums it all up. Go and do likewise.

Fire in my bones - Jeremiah 17-21

If I were to sum up today's devotional I would ask that you go to your kitchen and retrieve a hot pepper from a jar in the fridge. Now most people might not have a hot pepper in their kitchen but one can always hope. I would ask you to take the biggest and hottest pepper you can find and eat it, without water, in one huge bite. I am sure you know what will happen next. Fire! Fire, happens next. Your mouth will feel as though there is a seven-alarm blaze happening. There is little you can do to prevent it from happening. The chemical reaction of the pepper will make you feel as though your tongue and the roof of your mouth are burning. You don't need to do anything to feel that flame, except eat the pepper - the pepper will do all the rest. Jeremiah, according to 20:10, was in the same position you would be in if you ate the pepper. Let me set the scene for you. Jeremiah has been, up to this point, the faithful mouth piece for God. He has been given a message to preach to the nation of Israel (especially their leaders) and he has done so faithfully. However, the message he has been asked to deliver to the nation is this: Give up and allow yourself to be taken captive by the Babylonians and it will go well with you. If you don't give up and you try to fight for your land and your families you will either die by the Babylonian sword or by famine; but you will die. So, Jeremiah's message would sound like a prophet today saying, give up to the enemy of our soliders and give in. Don't resist. Lay down your sword because you are going to lose anyhow. You see the problem here? Because of Jeremiah's message, the leaders of the day have Jeremiah beaten (more than once ... 20:1-4). Jeremiah, like any one who had been beaten because of his "speaking" decided he would just shut up and not speak anymore for God (20:7-9). Here is where our pepper illustration comes in. Jeremiah was called to speak for God. God had put His words in Jeremiah's mouth and so Jeremiah knows that if God puts His words in your mouth there is nothing you can do but burn. In 20:10 Jeremiah confesses that if he "does shut up" than his bones would burn like fire because God's Word is in his being and it will need to come out. That is how we are to be as Christians. If we truly are believers in the risen Christ; that we are indewlt by the Spirit, then the Spirit has to come out. When you are in Christ and He is in you there is a natural burning and a desire for God-like things to come out of you. If something else is coming out than something is wrong. You can't stop but "feel" God trying to break out. Eat a pepper and ask yourself: Is this what God is like in me? It should be ... but have some water ready just in case.

Venting - Job 31

Everyone likes to vent. You know, we are having a bad day and we just want to say something that we probably don't mean but it needs to be said. Venting is as natural as exhaust from a car. If you are going to expend energy you are going to vent. Pressure builds - venting bursts! It is interesting, however, how others respond to our venting. This morning, after reading Job's venting in chapter 31 I didn't have time to write this devotional - rushing out the door, getting gas in the car, taking my wife to work ... whoops; I think I am venting. Sorry! Anyhow, as I was getting settled at work a fellow Christian sister started to vent to me. I didn't see the connection right away with what I read in Job 31 earlier but should have. Instead of letting her "vent" (share her pressures) I decided to give her a "theological lesson" on how the desires of our heart are ... well, you get the point. Here in chapter 31 we have Job venting. If you read some commentators on this chapter you will see them berating Job for his words in the chapter. Others seem to think Job was simply responding to his friends false accusation in chapter 29. Job, in essence, declares his innocence for this pain he is in. However, I think Job was simply venting. He was getting it off his chest. He lost his children, his property and was stuck with a faithless wife and insensitive friends. I would vent too! What do you do when other's vent? Do you take the opportunity to teach them a theological lesson or do you listen and let them release needed pressure. I suppose there is a balance here, but be careful you don't do what I did. Sometimes it nice just to let others know you hear them and will spend the day praying that the pressure they feel gets released and they find peace in the midst of the turmoil.

Pure leadership - Psalm 45-47

There has been much written in regard to the subject of leadership in today's society. You can't help but find book after book on how to lead as you gaze at the shelves on bookstores across the country. Leading people in groups is both an old art and, yet also is relatively young in today's world. Outside of the military framework, political world and slavery, leading people at work, as we have it today is less than 100 years old. It wasn't until the industrial revolution that we began to lead people in groves out side of war and slavery and, or political leadership. We are still crafting the best ways to lead and we are still validating the best styles to use in leadership. Yet, here in these Psalms we have the best description and the best insight into pure Godly leadership, perhaps ever penned. We could spend days mining the riches in these three Psalms. Each of these Psalms is talking about the "King" and forty-five is Messianic in nature ... referring to the Messiah. Christ's leadership is unparalleled. We see in Psalm 45 that He leads by loving righteousness and hating wickedness (45:7). Imagine if someone were to pattern their leadership after this framework. A few verses earlier the writer described the Messiah's "corporate mission" to be one that pursues truth, meekness and righteousness (45:4). Imagine such a leader! In chapter 46 we read that God is our source of confidence and security ... that is real Biblical leadership. In chapter 47 we read that God is a "great king in all the earth" and then attribute after attribute is listed as to what type of King He is and how we are to sing praises to Him. Earthly leadership cannot, of course, compare to the Messiah and the Father's leadership. We are as far from that in our ability as a small animal creature is from us ... farther. Yet, in our desire to lead the Messiah and the God of the Universe are our true examples and patterns for leadership. With Christ living within us we can strive by the Spirit to be led in order to lead. Many of the books written on leadership today often site the "current" great leader we are to emulate; or, great leaders from the past to follow. Yet, true Biblical leadership should be patterned after the Messiah, King and the God of all Creation, the "king over all the earth" (47:2). Don't read about leaders of this earth and pattern them unless they have discovered the real pattern: Jesus Christ.

Circumstances do not constitute God's blessing - 1 Samuel 26-31

David is back! These last chapters of 1 Samuel unfold David's return to faith and his establishment as a great leader. The leadership principles alone in these chapters are inspirational. David begins to lead his band of man in ways that honor God and promote Godly character. Perhaps the turning point for Daivd comes in chapter 26 where David is given yet another opportunity to kill Saul. David and one of his men, Abishai, sneak into Saul's camp to find him alseep. His spear is stuck in the ground next to his head - how inviting is that? Can you see the scene? All of Saul's men are fast asleep - we even read later that God had caused the sleep (26:12). Certaining the circumstance are provided by God. This must be God making it all work out for David to kill Saul and take over the kingdom. Yet, David doesn't see it that way. He does not take the circumstances as a sign of God's approval for murder. He realizes there is a God principle at stake: You don't hurt or hinder God's annointed leader. David knew it was God who put one leader up and takes another leader down (Psalm 75:7). David could have killed Saul and the story would be presented by preachers for ages to come as God providing an opportunity for David to take the kingdom back for God. Great messages would and could be preached on such an outcome. But, this is why these are great chapters in David's life. David doesn't use the circumstances to justify his actions. David remembers the principle of God's appointed leadership and is controlled by it. He does let Saul know of his actions. That "Y" in the road changes things for David throughout the rest of this book. You and I are confronted with odd circumstances every day. We tend to use them as an indicator of what God "must be doing" or "allowing." Yet, this story tells us that despite circumstances God's Word and the principles of God's Word always trump the situation and circumstances of life. Opportunity doesn't trump God's Word - God's Word trumps any circumstance that is presented by life. Don't be lead astray by the "this must be from God" argument. God directs by His Word and not by life's chances. David knew God would give him the kingdom in God's timing. In chapter 31 we see that done. David didn't take advantage of the circumstances but rather allowed God's Word to be his guide.

That you might know - Exodus 9-12

What does God have to do to get our attention? Does He have to write a message in the sky? Does He have to only whisper? What does He have to do to let us know that He is GOD? That He is mighty? That He is Powerful? In these passages recorded by Moses we have the story of God making Himself known to the Egyptians and to Moses, Aaron and the Israelites. On numerous occasions in these chapters God tells them that He is performing all these miracles and doing all this damage to the world, "so that you might know that I am God!" It seems God's Word wasn't sufficient to let them know who He was. God sent Moses to the nation of Israel and Egypt and told him and Arron to simply say, " 'I AM' sent you!" Yet, that wasn't enough. God simply stating who He is never seems to be enough. Everyone wants a miracle or proof that God is who He says He is. So, here, in this section we have miracle after miracle and power after power. Yet, after each demonstration of His great power, Pharaoh, at least, would not believe and submit. He only gave lip service while the difficult was present. But, when the tragedy past, he went right on worshipping himself and other gods. (That is so true today for people. We reduce God to nothing more than a "spare tire." When we get a flat we pull Him out and fix the problem and then put Him back in the trunk.) Finally, to get their ultimate attention, God uses Satan's ultimate tool against the very followers of Satan - Death. When God takes the first born from among them that is the ultimate attention getter. Today God uses numerous tools to get us to notice He is powerful, deserving of worship and wants to love us. But, death is the ultimate attention getter still today. When a life is gone we tend to pay attention to God. More closely, I suppose, is that we pay attention when someone is dying. God uses many things to get our attention. He has little things that nudge us to toward Him. He has some big things that are designed to wake us up and notice His power and give Him honor and praise. But, sometimes He uses the ultimate attention getter of death. It would have been nice for Pharaoh to wake up and see God with just a nudge. But Pharaoh, like a lot of people today, needed the full weight of God's attention getter. What do you need?

Don't mix your past with your present - 1 Corinthians 12-14

When it comes to worship we seem to have a lot of opinions about what is right and what isn't. You can wear a pair of jeans in one church and be cast out, but look like the pastor in another. You can sing one song in one church and everyone thinks you just left heaven, but in another that same song would cause seasoned believers to be frozen at the mouth. In one church no one would be allowed to touch the serving trays of the Lord's Table and NO ONE would eat the "meal" without waiting on the others. Yet, in some churches the Lord's Table is an individual time of reflection, as though no one else was in the room. Our forms of worship (or functions, depending on your bent) seem to take on strange and different cultural norms. As one church goer said, "I guess it depends on what your used to!" Yet, that was the very problem in Corinth and Paul's reason for addressing the worship of the Corinthian believers. According to 12:1-2 of Paul's letter, the Corinthian believers were being lead astray in true worship by their past pagan rituals. They were mixing some pagan with some Christianity. Paul wants them to stop it and to realize that worship of the True God is different and calls for different elements and structure. We do the same thing today. We try to turn our worship into a mall or entertainment experience, hoping to entice the pagan rituals in our minds that allow us to feel comfortable. Part of being a "new creature," however, is that we have "new" desires and ways. Don't get caught up in your form and function of worship from the past. Allow God's Word to teach you what He wants you do to in worship without the pagan rituals you may or may not have grown up with.

Upside down thinking - Mark 9 & 10

In this section of Mark we see the pen of the author moving with great speed. Mark seems to be recalling incidents in Christ's life at rapid pace and jotting them down as though he is writing a quick report for a class assignment. He spends little time on each story, giving us the facts necessary to see the Savior's movement. Unlik Luke who broads over a narrative at expansive lengths, Mark is choppy, incomplete at times, but getting us right to his point. He wants us to see Jesus' movements. He wants us to see the thrust and expanse of His ministry not necessarialy the depth of it. But, Mark is not without continuity, despite the rapid shots of data. In this section alone we see one major theme that is pecurilar to Mark: The last will be first. Although the other gospel writers record Christ's comments about the order of our position in a spiritual kingdom, Mark does so in triplicate. In 9:35; 10:31 and 10:44-45 we read Mark's words about the last being first in the kingdom and the servant being Lord of all. That is a silly thought, when you think of it in the backdrop of our current world economy and structure. Ever since Cain slew Abel it has been about being "first." Nimrod was named a mighty hunter in Genesis, which, in essence tells everyone else, he rules in the hunting world (Genesis 10:8). The desire to be first was Goliath's downfall. As what is Sauls. In Christ's day the Pharisees wanted to be first. Later the Apostle John would write a little tiny letter and let the world know that Diotrephes wanted to have preemenice among the church (3 John 9). All through the centuries of mankind the desire to be first has been ... first! We have pushed, taught and honored the desire for greatness and being at the top. No one wants to be picked last; we want to be picked first. No one wants to row, we all want to be the captain. But, kingdom living and acting is not like that according to Mark's recorded words of Jesus' teaching. Jesus was telling Mark and the others that a true follower of Christ is first and foremost concerned about serving others. James and John argued as they walked along about position. Jesus demonstrated humility and servanthood. Our churches today are more like James and John then Jesus. Oh to see a body of believers so fixated on serving one another rather than positioning one another for their own pride.

Can you run with the Big Dogs? Jeremiah 12-16

When we observe injustice in the land we often wonder what God is doing. When we see a leader kill his people we ask, "Where is God?" When we see a man kill his family we ask, "Where is God?" When we hear of a child killing other children in their school we ask, "Where is God?" Jeremiah had a similar plight as he observed the world around them and saw the injustice and the unjust profiting (bearing fruit ... 12:2) and flourishing in the land (12:1-4). God gives him a pecurliar answer in 12:5. God wants to answer his question but also needs him to know that iit s far deeper than his mind can comprehend. God uses a metaphor to explain to him the answer to the age old question of injustice in the land when a sovereign God is watching: If you can't run with a man, how will you ever run with horses (12:5). God is saying in this metaphor that if Jeremiah can't understand the simple things, how will he ever understand what God is about to do. Jeremiah was worried about the unjust behavior of the wicked. God takes the next four chapters to explain to him that He is not only going to do something about the injustice of the unjust (unbelievers), He is going to do something about the nation of Israel, living unjusticely. In essence God is telling Jeremiah don't ask the question because if you can't run with the big dogs you might as well stay on the pourch. God is telling Jeremiah He is going to deal with injustice in a major way that will be impossible for Jeremiah, or others to understand. God then unfolds this message over the next chapters. He comes to a conclusion and a direct answer to Jeremiah's questions in 16:17. Jeremiah had asked (on Jeremiah's level) a simply question in 12:1, "Why has the way of the wicked prospered?" Jeremiah wanted to discuss, what he thought, was a simple area of debate. God gives him, however, a complex and deep message and then sums up the entire four chapters with 16:7: "For my eyes are on their ways (all the wicked), they are not hidden from My face, nor is their iniquity concealed from My eyes." God is not silent when it comes to wickedness, but He is patient. Don't mistake His tolerance for His lack of justice (Romans 2:4). God knows that we can't run with the wisest of men ... how can we expect to run with Him in things of truth and widom. Jeremiah couldn't grasp the meaning of God's justice, His tolerance and patience. Nor can we. God is at work and will eventually judge mankind. Until then we should not mistake His tolerance for injustice.

From butter to bitter - Job 29-30

This is not a good section of Job. I know we are breaking the story up into little sections so we can digest it but these two chapters should not be read separately ... Job is in a very dangerous spot in his life. He is saying things he is about to regret when God interjects His words in chapters 38-39. In these two chapters Job continues his evaluation of his condition. The average psychologist would have a field day with Job as he or she listened to Job pour out his complaint. Job, in these two chapters, talks about how beautiful his past was. I love the line in 29:6. Job remembers his past and states, "My steps were bathed in butter ...". What a great picture of a successful and beautiful life. Job remembers when he was revered and admired by others. He goes from remembering the past to imagining the future as he talks about how he thought he would end his life "in my nest" and how the "dew would lie on his branches" (29:18-19). It is always good to remember the past and to dream about the future. But, like Job, we have to live in the present and that is Job in chapter 30. In the present Job recalls that he is not in a good place. He is now a taunt to those who once served him (30:1-10). Where he once gave of himself to help those in need (29:16) people were now cashing in on his destruction (30:13-15). He has gone from butter to bitter overnight (30:16-31). God's hand is upon him and he is now at the lowest part of his journey. He sees God in these two chapters as his tormentor, not his savior. All the words he has said so far about trusting God and resting Him, in these two chapters, are lost. These are very bad chapters to read alone. Yet, they are the words of Job's plight. He has characterized God as turning his "harp to mourning" and his "flute to the sound of those who weep" (30:31). If you have ever been in this spot in your life you know Job's feelings. The key to understanding these two chapters is "don't stop reading here!" Don't stop living here!! Yet, too many do. We stop at the worst possible place in our lives and we never get past the feelings of chapter thirty. We go from butter to bitter and stop right there. May we never stop in the chapter 30's of our lives. May we read on and move on in God's grace and not wallow so much in the past that we fail to see what God can do in the presence.

Saave for the soul - Psalms 42-44

As I write this iJourney my heart is heavier than it has been in a long time. I have been up most the night with a burden laid on my heart and a struggle within it. As I look around me Satan seems to be winning so many, many battles and my brothers and sisters seem to be dropping from our ranks daily. However, as I tossed and turned in my bed tonight I suddenly had a glimmer of hope in the darkness of the night ... today (or this morning) was Wednesay. I love Wednesdays! Not because it is "hump day" and a weekend of frivolity is one day closer to furition ... I love Wednesdays because on Wednesdays I have agreed to meet with God in the book of Psalms. There is nothing better for a grieving and burdened heart than the Psalms. Instead of tossing and turning in agony in my bed of sorrow I decided to jump from the sheets of gloom to the pages of hope. To my awesome surprise today's reading is Psalms 42-44. I have read these three Pslams in unison for a quiet time alone with God for years. I believe every Bible program for devotions I have ever been involved with has put these three Pslams together. Is it any wonder? Look at the collective harmony of their theme: My soul is in pain and only God can provide the saave for it. Only God can heal my brokeness. Only God can shed light when there is no light. Only God can save a sheep that is being slaughtered every day, all day. Only God can burst forth in the darkness to heal the broken bones and the desperation of the heart. I love the Pslams and I love Wednesdays when these Psalms are used by God to rub a wonderful and fragrant ointment on my tired and fearful soul. Like King David I must cry out to my soul, "Why are you cast down, O my soul? Hope in God ...!" When I was tossing and turning in my bed I was lost in the sea of personal hurt and despair. My "rational" mind kept showing me my past failures and the crippledness of my proposed solutions. It wasn't until God reminded me it was Wednesday and hundreds of years earlier He already had prepared a saave for my soul in Pslams 42-44. Hope in God, O my soul for I will yet Praise Him, the help of my countenance and MY God! I suppose when the dawn breaks over the eastern sky and the light of the day awakes the world, there will still be pain and suffering and a vision that Satan is winning. But, I will remember (albeit with sleepy eyes) that God is in control and has already taken my soul and healed it for today with the saave of Wednesday's Word!!! Hope in God, O My Soul!

Even when we run God is in control - 1 Samuel 21-25

In these chapters we have the account of David's running from King Saul (and, spiritually running from God's will). This is a very poor time in David's life. This is not an account of the best times in David's life. This is a real time of faith-less-ness for David. He begins in chapter 21 by lying to the priest (which eventually costs the priest and his household their lives). At the end of chapter 21 he is forced to act like a crazy man to avoid being killed by the Philistines. This is not a resume moment for David. These are the months and years you leave off your history when you tell your life story to friends. Yet, in the midst of this dark time for David we see God's marvelous care for him. We see God protecting him from the Philistines. We see God protecting him when Saul had him surrounded (23:24-29). We see God giving David a chance to practice grace and not kill Saul (24). In the midst of David's running and hiding and debasing himself, God is still in control. God is still working in his life and preparing him to be the leader He wants David to be. We tend to think when we are outside God's will God is simply sitting on His hands waiting for us to repent. Yet, in these passages we see that God is very much active in our lives during these dark days. God can move and act in our dark as well as He can when we are standing in His light. Never think that God is not controlling your life, even when you are running from Him. In fact, He may be more in control when we are running than we ever thought He was when we were standing in His will.

God uses stubborn people - Exodus 5-8

Moses and Aaron are sent on a mission to Pharaoh. God is about to use all parties involved to demonstrate His great love for His people, His hatred for idol worship and His power of all things. This is the point of this story and these miracles. Romans 9:14-18 tells us that for this very reason God created Pharaoh. God uses stubborn people and stubborn situations to accomplish His glory. Moses was stubborn; not wanting to even be the messenger of God. The Israelites were stubborn not wanting the hassle to follow God. Pharaoh was stubborn not wanting to believe in God. Yet, through all of this God used them all to glorify Himself and demonstrate His power and wonder. When we are going through a youth time in our lives it is important to know that God is going to used that tough time to accomplish His glorification. Our fears and failures and stubbornness in the midst of those times only magnify what God is going to do. We need to give God the glory and to assure that our cooperation isn't in the form of Pharaoh. God wants us to trust His power and His love in the use of that power. When God performed those early miracles on the land they affected the land of Goshen where the nation of Israel lived. It was only the later miracles that were held separate form Goshen. The Israelites had to endure frogs and water turned to blood as God worked on displaying His power. Just as the world enjoys the common grace God provides on behalf of believers, believers have to endure some acts of punishment God pours out on the sin of unbelief. God is displaying His power and the tough circumstances you and I may be in are for His glory. We may be stubborn, but God will even use that to bring Himself glory.

Divisions among you! 1 Corinthians 11

Paul continues to address problems that were apparent in the church at Corinth. Apparently, according to this section, there were two more problems he has been asked to address and clarify for the members of the church. The first dispute covered in this chapter was in regard to head coverings. Their apparently was a dispute in the church as to whether a women in church could pray without having her head properly covered. (Paul will eventually address the woman's activities in the worship service in chapter 14, as well. There must have been some strong, outspoken women in the church at Corinth and someone was bothered by them.) Paul simply tells them that, yes, a women should have her head covered in the church because it shows the order of creation (the man first and the women second). If you only read the first ten verses, however, you would probably have a dominate view of men in the church over women. However, verse eleven begins with, an "however." In verse eleven on further Paul reminds them that the women's hair is given to her as a natural covering and that should suffice the argument. If not, he has nothing further to say. He then goes on to talk about the second topic; those eating and drinking during the Lord's Table, who didn't respect the purpose of the table or those coming to the table. His point in all this is to point out to them that their divisions and arguments are not right and not good for the body. Paul wants them to know that these arguments, although having merit in one way, were a distraction and did not glorify God. He wants them to come together for the purpose of unity and to set aside these sins and arguments that are pulling them apart. Perhaps this is the one book we should study for modern day Christianity. Paul wants them to center on Christ and to focus on their oneness in Christ and not dispute whether sister Mary wears a hat in church. The Spirit wants to develop a spirit of unity in our midst not a spirit of contention and division.

Deny, Deny, Deny - Mark 7-8

At the end of chapter eight of this section we read the words of Christ in regard to taking up a cross to follow Jesus. The pre-qualification of taking up Christ's cross is to deny oneself. That is the hitch in the entire process. Many people can get excited about taking up the cross of Christ (whatever that means). Following Christ and being willing to let Him die for us is a step we all can embrace. But, this concept of denying oneself of something is like climbing a mountain with a dinner fork. I am in the middle of a weight loss program. It is one of many weight loss programs over the coarse of my life. The concept in weight loss (for a man who's number one sin is gluttony) is to learn to deny his appetite or confuse his appetite desire with something better. I have to disguise asparagus to look and taste like ice cream. My appetite wants ice cream and chocolate. I have to deny myself that and offer it carrots and lettuce. We understand the concept of deny, deny. We just can't do it. What Christ is saying in these words is that coming to Christ is realizing we have no ability to follow Him. Denying self is to admit that only through Christ power can I live for Him. We tend to think that these words are like my diet program. But there not. To deny oneself for Christ is to realize there is nothing I have to offer - I have no strength to follow and need Him to lift me up (yoke me to Him) and carry me along. Deny yourself today. You will be allowing Him to do the work.

"Peace, Peace!" When there is none - Jeremiah 7-11

There is a new book out that is getting plenty of press from the world's publicity machine (Rob Bell's book, "Love Wins"). It is a book that simply says God's wrath is no longer active and God's love is the winning formula for all of life's ills. The book goes on to say that everyone will be saved because God's love will win over and defeat God's wrath, which is now dormant. To get a good sale from a book you have to have great publicity. What you have in this false manuscript that is being pushed by a greedy author and his publicist, is someone standing in the street and yelling, "Peace, Peace!" Yet, in the background the fire is burning. In Jeremiah's day the same thing was true. In fact I wonder if Rob Bell has ever read Jeremiah 8. Jeremiah was sent to condemn the false prophets who, despite God's warning of pending doom, stood in the street and published their fancy words and yelled, "Peace, Peace!" while in the background the Assyrian army was bearing down on Jerusalem (8:11). Jeremiah had a tough job. He had to proclaim truth when truth was gone (7:28). Don't be persuaded by the flashy sounds of publicity to sell books and build egos. There has always been false prophets claiming, "Peace! Peace!" when there was no peace. That is what makes the gospel so compelling. In the midst of war, disaster and wrath God offers His love to those He would rescue. That is the true peace. Jeremiah had the best publisher and when He publishes something we should not only buy it we should believe it.

Wisdom, hard to find - Job 27-28

I wish I could find a wise old man! A wise elderly man seems so rare these days. Maybe their all in Arizona or Florida! I remember when I was younger there seemed to be more wise gentlemen a young man could turn to for counsel and insight. Where did they all go? In these two chapters we see our tormented Job looking for the same thing: Someone with wisdom. Job wonders where wisdom is found. He tells us that fine stones and precious medals are available and have been discovered, even though the birds of the air and the walking lion can't see them (28:1-11). In this section Job gives us great insight into the advancement of man during his day. Although Job's day didn't seem to have much medical advancement it sounds as though they had discovered mining and the production of metal from rocks in the ground (28:2). However, even though precious metal could be mined and discovered beneath the earth, what about wisdom; where was wisdom? Job wants to find it. He knows it was wisdom that created what he can find but he is lost as to where wisdom itself is located. Job knows that wisdom will help explain his plight. He has grown tired of the explanations of his friends. He desires real wisdom. And, although he can't find it he does know that wisdom comes from fearing the Lord (28:28). Job knows that wisdom begins with an awe inspiring fear of God. That is why he trembles for the wicked (chapter 27). Job knows that the answer to his plight is found in the wisdom of God. This is a turning point in Job's heart. He is no longer reasoning in his mind and is now searching in his fear for God for answers to his plight. We may not be able to find wisdom in the core of the earth where we find precious medals; and, we may not find wisdom around us in the opinons of old men. But, we can find wisdom in a proper relationship with God. Maybe that is why we can't find old men today with wisdom ... They are so busy enjoying the world God gave them in their retirement they have failed to mine their relationship with God. Are we following their footsteps?

Which is more- God's wonders or my sin? Psalm 39-41

The three Psalms before us conclude what is historically Book 1 of the Psalms. In these three we have David providing music for his choir director. These are psalms that are meant to be sung in the congregation. In 40:4-5 we see David declaring the greatness of God's wonders. He states that they are too numerous to count, should he try. We are to sing this thought. The songs in our worship are to be about Him, not us. They are to be about the wonders we can't count not the walk we can't live. Later in the passage however (40:12), David declares that his own sin has "overtaken" him. His sin is "more numerous than the hairs on his head". The question would be, "Which is greater, the wonders of God or the sin in my life?" The answer is plain, God's wonders are greater. In Romans 5:20-21 we read that where sin increases Grace abounds even more. Paul's words give us clarity to David's delima. God is so much bigger than our sins. Satan would cause us to think we are consumed by our sin. David and Paul want us to know that God's greatness is so far beyond our sin. Our sin is trumped by God's greatness. We tend to lean to our own sin and corruptness. But God's compassion and kindness is so far beyond our own deficiceny. Rejoice that God's wonders can't be numbered, but the number of our sins is limited to the number of hairs on our head. Our sins are limited and trumped by God's amazing grace.

Character lies within - 1 Samuel 16-20

We live in a world where outward appearances generate privilege and rank. In our society today we give value to facial appearance, body shape and material prosperity. God is not impressed with the same things that impress us. Years ago when they first began televising presidential debates the younger John F. Kennedy had an extreme advantage over his older opponent, especially among the female demographic. Through the events of the "tube," society would change. The Facebook phenomenon had at its roots a jester way to rate women based upon appearance. We are a visual society. We change constantly what we value but the one thing that stays the same is the medium of sight, vision. Samuel was no better when he went to look for a king to replace Saul. When the old prophet took at look at the older sons of Jesse he couldn't help but see a "king" in their midst. Yet, God did not want him to look at the appearance of the body and the flesh, but internally at the heart and character (1 Samuel 16:7). God didn't want a king that looked like a king, He wanted a king that had the heart of a king. That person was the ruddy David. We make the same mistake so much today. We dress up for work because our appearance so matters. We try to change the shape of our body to make it match the latest magazine cover. We are constantly listening to how we should do our hair, our lips and our jeans. Appearance matters to a carnal world. God, however, is looking for inward character and faith in Him. Let's see the value of character over appearance and look within rather than without. Godly character is first seen in the heart, not in the dress.

God uses those He would - Exodus 1-4

God needed a leader to lead His people out of Eygypt. We don't know what other options He had. We don't know if there were greater leaders than Moses whom God could have chosen from, but it was Moses who God wanted to lead His people. Moses believed he wasn't adequate to make the change from flock leader to nation guider. Yet, that is what God wanted. Moses had a special upbringing to put him in a special place of understanding the Egyptian world. God had designed that education. God used the earlier evil of the leader of that day to get Moses into position and trained for the leadership needed to get His people out of the evilness this day. That is how God works. God used the circumstances in Moses' life to train him for the battle before him. Moses didn't know that. In fact Moses didn't even look at his qualification forged over years. Where Moses could only see his inadequacies, God saw his years of training. God had built Moses. He equipped him with knowledge of where His people were (Egypt) and where they would be going (the same wilderness where Moses lead his sheep). God is in the process of either using those He has built or is building those He will eventually use. You and I are one of the other. God is using circumstances around us to give us a place to lead or using them to teach us how to lead later.

Do all to glorify God! - 1 Corinthians 9-10

In this section Paul returns to answer the same topic and question he ended with in chapter eight: Should or shouldn't we eat meat that was first offered to idols? He had just told them in chapter eight that the meat offered to idols controversy could be easily solved if they simply decided to not do anything that might offend another brother and allowed them rather, to practice love. He now moves on and begins an argument about the connection between the servant of the gospel and that servants ability to "share" in the material side of the service. His argument is simple: The material aspect of the gospel (money and meat) is something those who provide ought to benefit from (chapter 9). As a result of that, the argument continues in chapter 10, that those material things, that ministers share in, then become part of the worship we are performing (see his logic?). He even uses the bread of the Lord's Table as an example (10:16). His argument unfolds to the necessary conclusion: If by eating meat offered to idols causes someone's conscious to collapse, than we should not eat meat offered to idols (or do something that causes our brother's conscious to be wounded). Paul is so compelled to not wound his brother he is willing to do what he can to reach them for the gospel (9:22). Are we so interested in our individual rights that we forget our goal is to love our brother and to win the lost for Christ? Our Christian liberty is not a right to do what we want (although we can) it is the responsibility to practice love based on the consciousness of others.

Unbelief is contagious - Mark 5-6

In Jesus' home town they could not look pass His past to hear and believe His teaching (6:6). Apparently that wasn't the only place the unbelief surfaced. In 6:52 we read that the disciples also had hard hearts and could not believe, even though they had seen the feeding of the five thousand and actually administrated the miracle. It is hard to believe that family and friends of Jesus were often in the dark when it came to belief. But the case is even true today. Sometimes those closest to ministry simply don't have the faith to believe when the time comes. Those who should know better and should be able to excercise faith in the face of adversity fail to see and believe the strength of God. Those who should see the Creator's power in a plan fail to even lean on faith to get the plan accomplished. We often wear Christian on our sleeve but unbeliever in our hearts. Do we believe God is in control, or not? Do we think that God is sovereign or not? Do we believe that God is all powerful and can fix any hurt or not? Yet, like infant children we whin at the disruption in our lives. Are we not like Jesus' family? Are we not like the disciples of old? Allow God's Word to strengthen your faith and practice belief, even in the midst of the bellowing waves. When Jesus comes walking on the water don't be amazed in unbelief but rather be confident in faith that your rowing will soon be easy.

An Appalling and horrible thing has happened - Jeremiah 1-5

The last two verses of this section sum it all up quite well: "An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: The Prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule on their own authority; and my people love it so! But what will you do at the end of it?" Jeremiah was sent to prophecy to the southern tribe of Judah (Isaiah was sent earlier to prophecy to the northern tribes of Israel ... the nation split in 931 B.C. at the time of Solomon's death). Jeremiah was to be the lone voice for God in a time when most prophets (the most we read about and the people listened to) were spreading false prophecies. Jeremiah will eventual tell the nation to give in to the Assyrians and Babylonians and allow them to capture the people. This will not sit well with the nation. The false prophets, who the people loved, will speak about God delivering them from their captors, as He did many times (see the book of Judges). God's verdict on the nation, however, was that it was a horrible thing for someone to say something false in the place of God. It was a terrible thing for the land. The worst portion of these words is that the people "love" that the prophets were false. They did not test the prophets because they like the teaching of the prophets. Jeremiah will show us what happens in a land where false prophets are not incremented but rather loved and enjoyed and embraced. Jeremiah will be ill treated because he dared to speak the truth about God and God truth about the nation. But, if we don't speak truth, it is a terrible and horrible thing for the land ... because truth wins!