I recently read a story about a couple who sat on a beautiful - clean - beach in Florida. They were very impressed with the lack of trash and seaweed. They commented to each other about the apparent care given to the beach. As they sat for awhile, they noticed a young man wearing a t-shirt that said "Beach Staff" on it. The young man was raking the debris from the beach and making piles. He was systematic in his approach, leaving a trail of piles as he made his way up the beach. The couple was very impressed! They wondered how he would deal with the piles.
Pretty soon he came back around with a shovel and began to dig shallow holes next the the piles, pushed the debris into the hole and covered it up. They laughed at first - knowing that when the tide came back in, the efforts of the young man would quickly be undone. Then they became sober as they thought about how much we're like that as humans.
How often is the beach of our lives littered with ugly secrets, inaccurate beliefs, emotional distress, and relationship problems? We think that if we just dig a hole and bury the stuff, that the appearance will be impressive enough. We hope that when the tide comes it, it will take all that junk out to sea so we won't have to deal with it anymore. If the tide would just stay out long enough we'll forget about the stuff and go on with our lives.
Been effective for you so far? Me neither! I've learned that God has a plan for those things that I just want to bury. He wants to work with me to completely remove the junk from beach. The problem with God's plan is that it takes work. The good news is that God wants to give us the strength and courage to face these issues and exchange them for treasures beyond our wildest imagination! 1 Peter 5:6-7 says, "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." He is available to start that work right now. He's waiting for you to realized that your way isn't working.
Humble yourself. Do it His way. You're going to be pleasantly surprised how your life will change. You'll have more energy - when we clean up God's way, we don't have to keep making piles and burying them. You'll have time to enjoy the treasures that God has put aside especially for you to enjoy! The tide's coming in again - what will you be doing?
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Monday, March 27, 2006
The Waiting Place
"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." Psalm 27:14
The waiting place...seems like such a ridiculous place for a "get it done" kind of person. I know there are personalities that are really good at taking it easy, but I'm not very good at waiting. Don't like stop lights (or signs for that matter) - I actually celebrate the traffic roundabouts in my area! Keep things moving. They confuse and intimidate most drivers I know.
Dr. Suess wrote a book I really enjoy, "Oh the Places You'll Go." It celebrates the individual and the accomplishments or potential accomplishments of a person. As much as I like the book, Suess saw fit to bring everything to a screeching halt right in the middle of the book and had the audacity to call it "the waiting place." It's a place where everybody was "just waiting." At least we agreed on one thing - "the waiting place is a most useless place."
But what do you do with this verse from Psalms? It the last verse of one of my favorite chapters. David starts the chapter with "The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?" I read it like David offering himself a pep talk in the middle of a difficult situation. You know, when the cares of life are bearing down and you're starting to feel despair, it makes sense to stop and collect yourself. So long as the stop isn't going to take very long - kind of a drive thru pick me up - maybe a shot of espresso at Starbucks. Anyway, as he starts taking account of the reasons he doesn't have to be overcome by the situation, it starts occuring to him that his basic desire is to just be in relationship with God. And why not, when we're dwelling with God, feeling the fullness of his presence, there's a real sense of peace and protection.
In verse seven, the tone changes a bit. David is moving inside and seeking the face of God. This ain't no drive thru "pick me up" now were talking about a four course meal. Do you remember what happened to Moses when he went on the mountain and saw the glory of God? Wow - that was intense - Moses was so impacted that, according to Exodus 34:30 his face was radiant and the people were afraid. And as David realizes that he's no longer in the "drive thru", it occurs to him that he's not prepared for what he just asked for. He's a bit underdressed in his "humanness." Yet he's reminded about the unconditional love of God - who is ready and waiting to provide.
Now David is seeing his situation from a different perspective. He's lingering - "teach me," "lead me," "let me see the goodness of the Lord." Another version puts verse 14 this way, "Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait I say, on the Lord." That puts the waiting place in a different light. When I think about it that way, waiting feels more like an afternoon at the spa and less like being tied up in traffic. I'm quickly coming to the conclusion that the waiting place is actually a place, as Christians, we could call "home." In that context it's no longer "useless" but one of the most productive and peaceful places for us to be.
And so I wait!
The waiting place...seems like such a ridiculous place for a "get it done" kind of person. I know there are personalities that are really good at taking it easy, but I'm not very good at waiting. Don't like stop lights (or signs for that matter) - I actually celebrate the traffic roundabouts in my area! Keep things moving. They confuse and intimidate most drivers I know.
Dr. Suess wrote a book I really enjoy, "Oh the Places You'll Go." It celebrates the individual and the accomplishments or potential accomplishments of a person. As much as I like the book, Suess saw fit to bring everything to a screeching halt right in the middle of the book and had the audacity to call it "the waiting place." It's a place where everybody was "just waiting." At least we agreed on one thing - "the waiting place is a most useless place."
But what do you do with this verse from Psalms? It the last verse of one of my favorite chapters. David starts the chapter with "The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?" I read it like David offering himself a pep talk in the middle of a difficult situation. You know, when the cares of life are bearing down and you're starting to feel despair, it makes sense to stop and collect yourself. So long as the stop isn't going to take very long - kind of a drive thru pick me up - maybe a shot of espresso at Starbucks. Anyway, as he starts taking account of the reasons he doesn't have to be overcome by the situation, it starts occuring to him that his basic desire is to just be in relationship with God. And why not, when we're dwelling with God, feeling the fullness of his presence, there's a real sense of peace and protection.
In verse seven, the tone changes a bit. David is moving inside and seeking the face of God. This ain't no drive thru "pick me up" now were talking about a four course meal. Do you remember what happened to Moses when he went on the mountain and saw the glory of God? Wow - that was intense - Moses was so impacted that, according to Exodus 34:30 his face was radiant and the people were afraid. And as David realizes that he's no longer in the "drive thru", it occurs to him that he's not prepared for what he just asked for. He's a bit underdressed in his "humanness." Yet he's reminded about the unconditional love of God - who is ready and waiting to provide.
Now David is seeing his situation from a different perspective. He's lingering - "teach me," "lead me," "let me see the goodness of the Lord." Another version puts verse 14 this way, "Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait I say, on the Lord." That puts the waiting place in a different light. When I think about it that way, waiting feels more like an afternoon at the spa and less like being tied up in traffic. I'm quickly coming to the conclusion that the waiting place is actually a place, as Christians, we could call "home." In that context it's no longer "useless" but one of the most productive and peaceful places for us to be.
And so I wait!
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Here's the news
Many of my dear friends have been wondering what I've been up to. This blog is an attempt to keep everyone up to date, and give me a historical record, as life occurs. After an extended time of reflection - including much prayer - I've come to the place where I can say out loud, God has called me to pursue a life of full time ministry, specifically the call to "preach".
I argued with him for several weeks (who does that surprise?) But as usual, he gets that last word and the last laugh! I'm submitting and looking toward an adventursome future that leads to a deeper level of discipleship with the outflowing that builds the kingdom of God - giving Him glory and honor for the work that HE is doing.
In my denomination, the "call to preach" means a journey of education and accountablity. Of course that means higher education and significant costs. Accountability means to go through a series of "interviews" that are both personal and invasive. Neither of these 'courses' appeal to me, and yet the Holy Spirit works to provide peace and assurance that this is the process that God has called me to for the time being.
I covet your prayers and feedback. I hope that you will check back to the blog often, so you can keep up with the journey. You're as much a part of this as I am. God has seen fit to make you a part of my past, assisting him in making me who I am today. I need each one of you, as God sees fit, to continue this journey!
Thanks for being my friend!
I argued with him for several weeks (who does that surprise?) But as usual, he gets that last word and the last laugh! I'm submitting and looking toward an adventursome future that leads to a deeper level of discipleship with the outflowing that builds the kingdom of God - giving Him glory and honor for the work that HE is doing.
In my denomination, the "call to preach" means a journey of education and accountablity. Of course that means higher education and significant costs. Accountability means to go through a series of "interviews" that are both personal and invasive. Neither of these 'courses' appeal to me, and yet the Holy Spirit works to provide peace and assurance that this is the process that God has called me to for the time being.
I covet your prayers and feedback. I hope that you will check back to the blog often, so you can keep up with the journey. You're as much a part of this as I am. God has seen fit to make you a part of my past, assisting him in making me who I am today. I need each one of you, as God sees fit, to continue this journey!
Thanks for being my friend!
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