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Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ” —John 20:17 After the Resurrection, everything changed. Death was defeated. Satan’s ultimate defeat was assured. Our salvation became possible. And we were gifted with a new relationship with God. He became our Abba, our daddy. In the first words, Jesus spoke as risen Lord, He calls the Father, His Father and Our Father. Fatherhood has never been less understood than it is today. Never before have some many grown up without a resident father. But even in households where there is a natural father, he often fails to fill the God assigned role as spiritual leader. We’ve never needed our heavenly Father more. Many of us have grown up without a human model of what fathership is. God our Father loves us enough to permit the death of his begotten Son. He wants us to live with Him forever. He is willing to see us suffer and struggle when He knows that’s what we need […]

We have been talking about God’s Plan for us. Once we grab on to the concept that He has a plan and acknowledge that His plan is superior to ours AND commit to being a follower of His Plan, then what? How do we convert those intentions into life. I believe we do that by asking “What Now?” We need to do that more than in just  an abstract way, but in a practical “What do I do next?” way. We should begin every day, in those first few moment of wakefulness asking “What would you have me do today?” Some people find that difficult, claiming that they are not “morning people.” For them it may work better to end each day asking, “What would you have me do tomorrow?” That doesn’t work for me because I go to sleep too fast. Ask Rosemary. Then at particular times of the day we need to ask, “How am I doing?” “What next?”  Then wrapping it up at the end of the day with “How did we do?” If you are new to listening to God this may see very silly. But it really isn’t. It will take some time to […]

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV) God is in control. We talked about that yesterday. I argued yesterday that one result of that truth is that we should probably spend less time planning and more time enjoying the ride. Instead of focusing on the futile project of wrestling control back from God, maybe we should consider the impact of His control.  One reason we like to be in control is that we like to know what’s happening. That’s why I like to drive. While driving I focus on the road and each danger and opportunity as it approaches. Somehow I feel I’ll do a better job in handling those situations than anyone else in the car who might want to drive. In other words, I believe I’m the best driver in the car. (Not too humble am I?) But with life, it’s completely different. It’s hard to argue with the truth that God is a better driver. He knows what will happen. He has a clear vision of the road ahead. He has […]

Has your life turned out like you thought it would? Maybe you’re too young to know. But most of us don’t have to get too old before we realize that things don’t always turn out like we planned. In fact, it might be fair to say that things don’t  usually turn out like we plan.  I think the big problem is we plan too much. I’m serious. There’s nothing wrong with planning  but there is so very much we have no control over. Holidays are a great example. We have all witnessed the Christmas that doesn’t live up to expectations or the birthday party that’s a bomb. Maybe we need to live with our hands a little less firmly attached to the steering wheel of life. Face it we really don’t control very much and if we are real honest about it, that’s a very good thing. Just think how messed up things would be if we were in control. But the fact is God is in control. One of my favorite songs of all time is Twila Paris’ God is in Control. Consider the lyrics: This is no time for fear This is a time for faith and […]

“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4 It’s not fashionable or cool to mourn. You would think with all the death on the news, on television and the movies, it would be quite real to us. The opposite seems to be true. All those “pictures” of death numb us to it’s reality. We hear about thousands dead in Japan and it’s really just numbers. And it isn’t just death. We numb ourselves to any kind of pain or worry. Depression is a disease; but sorrow is part of life. We live in a world where children go to bed hungry. Christians are tormented for their faith. And millions die without Jesus. Jesus was a man of sorrows. He saw the sin around Him, and it broke His heart. In Matthew 23:34-39 we read how Jesus’ heart ached for Jerusalem and the destruction sin had wrought in the hearts of men. We live in an increasingly lost world; many are dying without Jesus. That should make us mourn.  The truly sad thing about our reluctance to mourn is that it robs us of true comfort. We can’t really feel comforted, if we haven’t mourned. Joy […]

Is your life on autopilot? You know how it is. We slip into patterns. We wake up at certain times. Go to work. Come home. Camp out in front of the TV. Bed. Then we do it all again. We miss much when we live on autopilot. We are so used to our routine that we can miss the unique things going on around us each day. We can miss the needs of those around us. We can miss the beauty of God’s world. We can miss His involvement in our lives.  We also can stagnate. If we are in a routine we’re probably not growing. Each day we should know a little more about God. We should have a bit more trust in Him. We should be a bit less worldly and a bit more heavenly minded. Instead, if we are on autopilot, we probably have not experience real change in years. Consider. Where is your spiritual life now, compared with a week, month or year ago? Commit to some intentionality in your life starting tomorrow. Spend some time in scripture before you start your day, it that’s not part of your current routine. Listen to Christian music […]

I spent most of the day yesterday at a Kairos State Board meeting in Alexandria. The day was spent in discussions about the new manual we use, software programs that we use to keep up with donors and organizing the Kairos weekends, quality control measures… all our methods to do God’s work. Ministry is always a balance between doing the best job we can based on our shared experience and our willingness to be yielded to God’s Spirit. We clearly have an obligation to do the  best job we can at what God has called us to do; yet we also need constant reminders that no matter how great the method, it’s God who does the work.When ministry becomes tiresome and tedious and doesn’t feel very fruitful, it’s usually time to step back and make sure we’re doing what God has told us to do, in the way He would have us do it. To make sure we are relying more on His spirit and wisdom than on our methods and experience.The Good News is no matter how bad we blow it; he seems to always be there to take up the slack.Praise Him for His movement and His […]

I did some judging this morning. We judge all the time. We go to MacDonalds instead of Burger King, or the other way around, because we “judge” one to be better than the other, or cheaper or closer. We make judgments concern our television watching and with whom we choose to associate. This morning was a little different. It was a little closer to the situation in which Jesus asked “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” I went into the Waffle House with my ear phones in my ears. So a bit oblivious to those around me. Somehow I noticed a woman at the counter. She just had a cup of water in front of her. I picked up pieces of the conversation and figured out she was asking for some food and explaining she had no money. The manager gave her some food. She said she need to get to the closest truck stop to get a ride. The manager told her he couldn’t take her but gave her some cash. She then asked for a phone book and the use of the phone and tried to call a cab. When she went to […]