More Than You Can Ask Or Think

Sometimes in my spiritual arrogance I want to ask God when am I going to see that "more than you ask or think" promise. That's when the Spirit gives me a spiritual elbow in the side--a hard one--and reminds me:
You were born in the 20th century in the United States
You were born into a Christian family
You grew up in a real community with real neighbors who looked out for everybody
You lived right down the street from your cousins who have been lifelong friends
You have two sons, a daughter-in-law, and two granddaughters that you love dearly
At 68 years old you are still in fairly decent health--I mean, you woke up this morning and had enough energy to go to work.
You have been given the gift of teaching so that you get to spend all day interacting with young people and on occasion, touching their lives for Me
You were given the privilege to take care of Mom during the last few years of her life--no doubt, just what Pop would have wanted. And she even enjoyed putting up with you.
Your sisters still spoil you way more than you deserve
For ten years you've been blessed to live in a beautiful spot just perfect for the things you love and enjoy. And who else has a pond for an aquarium full of gold fish.
And you've got great Christian neighbors--without Dennis' help you'd spend half the winter shoveling a long, long, long, long driveway.
When Mom went Home and you needed "work," God opened the door so you could get back in the classroom. Ministry instead of "work." And you know how you loved the class of 2014!!! And are falling in love with the class of 2015.
And for absolutely no reason you can possibly imagine, I, in love, called you, redeemed you, am daily sanctifying you, and when it's time for you to go Home, you'll be spending eternity with me lavished with my love. In a place so marvelous that I can't begin to describe it for you so that you could grasp its magnificence--it's "more than you could ask or think."

Yes, Lord. Everyone of those gifts is "more than I could possibly ask or think." Thank You. And forgive my arrogance--again.

Run

The Christian life is a marathon. And we often find ourselves gasping for air, limping along on a strained hamstring, or perhaps, even wondering if we missed the marker and have somehow gotten off the course. What's the solution? I think Hebrews 11, the great faith chapter, gives us some clues. First, we are surrounded by the "been there, done that" crowd. It's described as the crowd of witnesses watching us run. You can read all about them in the Old Testament. (And you should!) People just like you, running the race, getting tired, getting hurt, feeling all alone on the course. Do you know what they all found out? His faithfulness is new every morning. Walk with God and one day you'll look around, and you'll be with Him in glory. Go down to Egypt and lie a little bit out of fear, He'll find a way to turn it into a blessing. Laugh to yourself about the absurdity of His promises, He'll fulfill them anyway. Think you are all alone? He'll take your hand and whisper, "Looking for Me? Been here all the time. Just lean on Me until you catch your breath. I'll give you rest." They discovered that tired, wounded, or confused, He delighted in them. No one was cheering louder for them in the grandstand than He was. And do you know what the second great truth was that they discovered? It's the one that kept them going no matter what their circumstances, no matter how steep the hill on the race Home. The marathon of life is nothing compared to the victory lap. Keep running--even if it's at limp speed. You'll never forget the hug the "Coach" will give you when you limp across the finish line and fall into His loving embrace. And He'll even tell you "Thank you" for relying on His strength to get you Home." And He'll replace that old worn out body with one that will last forever--in fact, one just like His. Run on!

Balance

Meekness is not weakness. See Moses. It's a balance between a heart filled with compassion for people and a heart committed to the glory of God in every facet of one's walk--including interacting with people.

Balance: Total compassion. Total commitment.

Ready

How to be ready for His coming:

Pray. Pray. Pray.
Love God's people fervently even when they are struggling in their walk--like you.
Show hospitality to strangers--without complaining about it. Everyone after all is a stranger at times.
Use your gifts "as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." Don't you dare try to steal His glory Who gave you not only the gift, but the strength to use it, and the opportunity to put it to use for Him.
Rejoice in the midst of suffering. Entrust your soul to the faithful Creator. Do what is right. Even if it means more suffering.

Simeon

I often wonder about Simeon. He had been faithfully serving the Lord for years. One of the very few who had his theology right--he was looking for a suffering Savior. Did he know that day as he made his way to the temple that that would be the day he would encounter the Savior? Can you imagine the emotions? Did he know that he would encounter him as a little child--just days old? How long had he been there that day waiting--pacing back and forth his eyes on everyone who entered the temple doors? Seemed like just seconds, I imagine. And how many "Bible scholars" had smirked at his teaching. You know he shared it. I mean, he stood up in the middle of the temple, held His Savior in his old gnarled hands and shouted "For my eyes have seen Thy salvation!" And I imagine the Jewish gatherers were a little confused if not angry at the words '"A light of revelation to the Gentiles." But, of course, they were moved by "and the glory of Thy people Israel." And then to hand Jesus to His mother, to look into the face of that young girl and have to tell her--and I have no doubt that there were tears of sympathy for her in his old eyes (God has no hard-hearted followers--at least, not "righteous and devout" ones)--"He will pierce your own soul. He will reveal those who truly have a heart of love toward God." I wonder how many times Mary remembered those words and saw that old tear-stained face in her memory? I'll bet I know one day she remembered them. Simeon--God's "bond-servant." Simeon--an old man ready to go Home, knowing His Savior had come. Simeon--a man overcome with the peace that the God of promises and the God of Hope alone can give. Wouldn't you love to have a film of that moment, of the look on his face and on Mary's face and on Joseph's face? A film of the wonder on the faces of those in the temple hearing such a cry from an old saint? And Anna in her eighties who heard the testimony "running" out the door to tell everyone she met--her Bridegroom had come. And you know Simeon sang the hallel as he danced his way home. Thirty years or so later that little baby all grown up would sing those psalms as he walked with His friends from an upper room to a dark garden to a cross to become "a light of revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of Thy people Israel." As He walked willingly to become old Simeon's Savior.

Life

Life isn't fair. No one gets what they truthfully deserve. Thank You Lord.
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Holy--as God is holy. Saints. Those who have been set apart. Aliens and strangers. Pilgrims passing through.

And yet so eager to be accepted, to fit in, to be as much like the world as we can possibly be.

"If the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men." (Jesus)
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Living the good life!

"Let him who means to live life and see good days refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile. And let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."
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A Life of Grace:

Patiently waits expectantly for God's best to be done.
In the midst of turmoil and struggle, exudes a confident, quiet, restful spirit knowing that the God who is in control always does what is best.
Demonstrates a life that finds its delight in Him--His love, His wisdom, His will. A life that makes those around them God-conscious--including, especially, themselves.
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 Success: Doing all that I do in a way that glorifies Him--makes His presence known. Felt.

A Prayer for America

My prayer for America:

May the whole counsel of God be taught from our pulpits and in such a way that when lives are transformed the only possible explanation will be the working of the Holy Spirit--not the eloquence nor the brilliance nor the manipulations of the teacher.

May the leaders of our country--at every level--come under the sound of the Gospel and be regenerated and transformed by the saving work of the Spirit in their lives. And may the transformation be obvious to all--whether or not they like the transformation.

May there be an "epidemic" of intercessory prayers for our godly moms, daughters, and grand-daughters.

May the church understand that revival has absolutely no chance of happening through the wielding of political power.

May we recognize that the only economic system the Lord can bless is a system based on compassion for the needy, justice, and the equality that Paul urges in II Corinthians 7-8. (There is a world of difference between working to make a living and working to make a profit.) And since such a system will never be adopted by a government, may each church make such giving a priority. And may it be left hand right hand in practice.

May our Christian educators understand that if we send into the world the most brilliant students ever and they have no heart for God, we have done the devil's work. May we have a deep commitment to excellence and a deeper commitment to commending a life of faithful obedience no matter what.

May our students who have the gift of creativity invade our culture's "entertainment" and artistic circles--with their parents' encouragement.

May Christians understand that there are only two "races" of people in the world--God's people and those who are not. And we are called to love them both as deeply as He loves us.

In judgment may God remember mercy and always save a remnant for Himself. May the world never run out of Daniels.