.....holding

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes Psalm 37:7

Many times, God will allow a painful situation or a painful circumstance in our life to "swallow us up." This season in our spiritual growth is a "holding pattern". We can't move to the left or the right. All we can do is sit, like Jonah sat in the belly of that great fish, so God can have our undivided attention and speak to us.

God put Jonah in a "holding pattern" because He needed to speak to his heart. Jonah was all alone. There were no friends to call, no colleagues to drop by, no books to read, no food to eat, no interferences, and no interruptions. He had plenty of time to sit, think, meditate, and pray.

When we're deep down in the midst of a difficult situation, God can talk to us. When He has our undivided attention, He can show us things about ourselves that we might not otherwise have seen.

A few of God's holding patterns:

1. When you are sick in your physical body and you have prayed but you are not yet healed, you are in a holding pattern.

2. When you are having problems with your children and you have put them on the altar, but God has not delivered them yet, you are in a holding pattern.

3. When you have been praying for a loved one to return to God, and they have not come back yet, you are in a holding pattern.

4. When you are in a broken relationship and you have given it over to God, but it has not been restored yet, you are in a holding pattern.

5. When the doors slam shut before you can even knock on them, you are in a holding pattern.

When we are deep in the belly of a difficult situation, there are no interruptions. God has our undivided attention. All we can do is sit, think, meditate, and pray. Like Jonah, we cannot run from God, because there are no mountains that are high enough, valleys that are low enough, rivers that are wide enough, rooms that are dark enough, or places that are hidden from Him.

We must remember to praise Him while we're waiting, and remember three things:

   1. The pattern has a purpose.

   2. The pattern has a plan.

   3. The pattern has a process.

Stop struggling and start listening, praying and trusting. He'll keep you right where you are until you can clearly hear Him say, "I love you."

.....pane

I heard of a young student, attending seminary, who went home for Christmas break.  A horrible snowstorm stranded the regular minister in another town where he had been visiting a member in the hospital.  The leaders of the congregation asked the young man to substitute for the regular minister.

The young preacher started his sermon by explaining the meaning of a substitute.  "If you break a window," he said, "and then place a piece of plywood over the hole - that's a substitute."

After the sermon, a well-intentioned woman wished to compliment the young man.  As she enthusiastically shook his hand, she said:  "You were no substitute.  You were a real pane!"

Ever gotten a compliment like that, where you went away scratching your head wondering how to take it? 

 

It's easy to assume the worst.  We live in a world where people are more often inclined to put you down than to lift you up, where they would rather ridicule you than encourage you.  Make it a point to say something encouraging to someone today, and do it in such a way that there will be no doubt as to your intention.

"Exhort one another daily, while it is called 'Today'..." Hebrews 3:13

.....will

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come 2 Corinthians 5:17

Our Heavenly Father’s Will reaches every life - believer and nonbeliever alike. No one walks this earth outside of His awareness or beyond His reach. The rain falls on the just and the unjust, and life’s joys and challenges come to all. The difference is not whether God is present, but whether we recognize His presence and invite Him to lead.

Many who do not believe in God still find themselves facing overwhelming circumstances such as loss, uncertainty, fear, broken relationships, or overwhelming exhaustion. They may see these moments as random or unfair, never realizing that God is near, ready to help carry whatever feels unbearable. How different those moments would be if they asked for God’s help by opening their hearts to His guidance, strength, and peace.

As Christians, we are not spared from hardship. We still walk through storms. Yet, there is a noticeable difference when our lives are surrendered to God’s will. Even in difficulty, there can be a quiet peace, a steady hope, and a confidence that we are not alone. That peace comes not from our own strength, but from trusting the hand of God to guide us through what we cannot control.

Perhaps this is one way God’s will touches the lives of nonbelievers - through observation. When they see a faithful Christian respond to trials with calm trust instead of despair, with prayer instead of panic, they may begin to wonder... "How can I be at peace in the middle of this? Where does that strength come from?"  In time, that curiosity may open a door. They may realize that surrendering their lives to God does not mean losing control, but gaining a loving "Guide". Turning their lives over to the will of God simply means allowing the Creator to handle whatever they were never meant to carry alone.

I pray that our lives will reflect such peace and trust that others will be drawn not to us, but to God. And may those who are struggling come to realize that God’s Will has been near them all along — waiting for them to turn to Him and find rest in Him.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might!”  Ephesians 6:10

- adapted from Daniel   thompson

.....separation

When we read the story of creation, we can clearly see how man was created for a blessed and intimate relationship with God. Man was made in the image of God Genesis 1:27 and given life with God's own breath Genesis 2:7. God intended man to live under His blessing and in dominion over creation.

Being in a perfect relationship with God meant there were guidelines for living; "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil" Genesis 2:16-17. 

.

Can you imagine the heartache when that relationship was shattered by sin? "When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it" Genesis 3:6. In this one act of disobedience, Adam and Eve said, "We do not believe!" For at the core of every sinful action is a heart which does not believe enough to trust that what God says is absolutely true. And the results are devastating!

We completely miss what happened in the garden if our picture of God is that of a bearded man on a throne with a judgment calculator who says from a distance, "They didn't follow the rules, send them away." That is not the God of the Bible! God gave life, sustenance, blessings, direction, and fellowship; and yet, the receiver of His gifts trusted and followed a lie. The consequences of the first sin must have broken God's heart.

Our Father still longs for His children to believe and return home. We've been away far too long and He desires for us to come back into His loving arms. And if we would take time for an honest examination, we would find a painful longing that wants only to return and be held close. 

Let's not wait another moment. Let's begin right now to walk with a consistent belief and end the pain of separation.

- adapted from steve troxel

....word

We speak of God's Word as the absolute truth by which we are to live. We encourage one another to live without compromise and not to be pulled by the temptations of the world. But this type of discussion always implies a standard for Christian living, a standard for holiness. And, as much as we hate to admit it, a standard implies rules. Oh, how these words make some uncomfortable - some even angry!

Much of the Christian teaching we receive today is focused on the free gift of God's grace; "For it is by grace you have been saved" Ephesians 2:8, and this grace seems to be in conflict with the presence of rules. Since our sins have already been forgiven, and "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" Romans 8:1, how can we talk about rules or standards or expectations?

It is absolutely clear in the Word of God that we are saved by grace and can do nothing to earn or improve upon our Salvation - we live and breathe under God's grace. However, it is also perfectly clear in His Word that there exists a standard of holiness for which we must strive. Sin is defined against a standard and the precious gift of God's grace never gives permission for sin!

"What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may abound? By no means!"

As children of God, we now have complete freedom; "the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death" Romans 8:2. 

But the freedom we have been given is the freedom to claim victory over sin and live a pure and holy life; "But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do" 1 Peter 1:15. We will never attain perfect holiness, never live in perfect compliance with God's standard. And though we who belong to Jesus are no longer under condemnation, we are still called to holiness.

So why should we strive? 

First, holiness is honoring to God because God hates sin. Sin kills those our Father loves - those He loves so much that He sent Jesus to die as a sacrifice for the penalty of sin. God hates sin and we ought to hate what God hates. 

Second, as we strive for holiness we will see even more clearly how far we fall from God's required perfection. As we strive, our sin will become even more apparent, and we will see with ever increasing thankfulness how much grace and forgiveness we have been given through faith in Jesus.

Salvation is ALL grace!! We live under His grace and have been set free from the law of sin and death. So now, let's truly learn of His grace by seeking to follow in His steps and striving for a thankful heart through a life of grace-filled holiness.

.....footings

The beautifully decorated home was only two years old when we purchased it. It seemed ideal for us at this stage of our life that we bought it after the second viewing. As per standard procedure, we hired an inspector to assure all was well.

When we read the report , we were quite astonished. There was a problem with 2 of the footings. Footings are the support base, or ground work of a structure, and are extremely important in the support of the house. It seems construction code had been met, for cement pads had been poured every 8 feet and a support beam placed thereupon. 

The problem surfaced when we realized the beams did not line up with the main support beams for the first and second floor and also the roof. As time would elapse, the floor would sag and buckle, the walls would crack, and the weight of house would be too much to bear without proper support. Something would give. Those support beams in the crawl space of the house were just in the wrong place, even though they passed code.

We hired someone to correct this situation, but it was an unforeseen expense and headache.

Just like those beams, our life can appear to be “in code” when we do good deeds, act charitable and go to church. But the truth is, we can be off center, just like those support beams were. If our footings of life are not grounded in God, the eventual weight of living in this world can cause us to crumble and fall.

Proper support starts with correct foundation. There is an old hymn that says 

    The church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord. 

    She is His new creation by water and the word. 

    From heaven He came and sought her to be His holy bride, 

    With His own blood He bought her and for her life He died.

We must allow Jesus to be the “footings” in our life. With Him, we will celebrate the joys of life and we will be able to face the adversities which come our way.

- marion smith 

.....becoming

The famous actor Gregory Peck was once standing in line with a friend, waiting for a table in a crowded Los Angeles restaurant.  They had been waiting for some time, the diners seemed to be taking their time eating and new tables weren't opening up very fast. They weren't even that close to the front of the line. Peck's friend became impatient, and he said to Gregory Peck, "Why don't you tell the maitre d' who you are?"

Gregory Peck responded, "No, if you have to tell them who you are, then you aren't."

There's a great deal of wisdom in that statement.  There's a big difference in who we think we are, who others think we are, and who we really are.  Someone has well said that, "Reputation is who others think we are.  Character is who we really are."  As Christians, we ought to be more concerned with character than with reputation.  Christianity is more than just knowing the right facts.  It's more than going through the right motions.  It begins in the heart; it's who we are.

There is a continual process of growing and adding Christ-like virtues to our lives.  Peter wrote, "Add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance brotherly kindness, and to brother­ly kindness love." 2  Peter 1:5-8.  We never stop "becoming"; it's an ongoing process.  There's always something positive to add to our lives, always something negative to try to get rid of.

We have different ways of measuring growth.  When Sueanne and I would take our children to see the pediatrician, the nurse would always check their height and weight.  Then that information was written onto a chart that gave us a picture of how they were growing.  When we get to be adults, we measure our growth by whether or not we can fit into last year's pants.

But how does a person measure his growth in Christianity?  In Ephesians 4:15-16, Paul says, "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.  "  Paul says that it's time for us to grow up, it's time for us to mature.  But what is the goal of our growth?  Jesus Christ is!

My favorite picture of the growth of Christianity is found in 2 Corinthians 3:18  "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."  

Paul says it's as if we're holding a mirror in our left hand, and a picture of Christ in our right hand.  Now when we look in the mirror and see our reflection, and we then we look at Christ, they don't look much alike.  But every day as we mature, we grow up, we become more like Christ, striving for the day when we look in the mirror and see the reflection of Jesus Christ.

Knowledge, conduct, and character must always go together.  We learn God's will so that we might obey it; and in obeying it, we serve him and grow in Christian character.  While none of us is perfectly balanced in these three areas, we ought to strive for that balance.

     

May God bless you as you seek to "know" His will better, "do" more in service to Him, and "become" more like Jesus Christ!

- alan smith

.....nineveh

The story of Jonah and the giant fish is one of the best known in the Bible and provides a wonderful example of how we need to follow when God calls. When God has a specific call for our life, He will persistently give us clear direction and use all His infinite resources to make sure we understand. But as we read through the entire Word of God, we must conclude that this type of specific call is relatively rare. For most, God's will never moves beyond a general call to walk in His love.

Yes, Jonah teaches us to follow when God's call is specific. But there is an even more important principle regarding God's general will which applies to all of us nearly every day of our life. This principle is discovered by examining why Jonah ran from God: "'Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before Me.' But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish" Jonah 1:2-3.

Jonah didn't run from God simply because Nineveh was located in a distant and foreign land. Jonah ran because he disliked (even hated) the people who lived in this leading city of the growing empire of Assyria. The people of Nineveh had a reputation for cruelty in war, idolatry, and a general disrespect for God. Jonah had grown up with a hatred of Nineveh and couldn't bear being sent there to preach. He couldn't bear the thought of these hated people actually repenting and being blessed by "his" God.

O Lord, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity Jonah 4:2 

Where, or who, is our Nineveh?

God desires all the world to turn from their wicked ways and receive His blessings. And His general call is for us to deliver this message of love. We are called to deliver this message to ALL - especially those we may naturally dislike or have been "taught" to fear and hate. 

Ministering outside our natural group becomes a form of worship because it demonstrates our understanding of the grace we have been given through faith in Jesus; none of us can ever earn God's love! Let's take the general will of God into the mission field placed before us and worship our Father by accepting the challenge of ministering to Nineveh.

.....stones

There are many types of monkeys that can be captured with nothing more than a hollow wooden ball and a few shiny stones. The wooden ball contains a hole just large enough for the open hand of the monkey to pass through. The shiny stones are placed inside the ball and the ball is then tied to a tree.

The curious monkey reaches into the hollow ball and grasps the stones but then finds his hand will no longer pass through the hole while he clings to his prize. The monkey fights to free his hand but will not drop the stones and is therefore easily captured.

Jesus had chosen His twelve disciples and was giving them instructions as He sent them out to minister. He told them where to go and some of the hardships to expect. He also told them one of the great secrets of a successful journey.

"Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." Matthew 10:39

Another translation of this same verse reads: "If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for Me, you will find it." This is a truth the world doesn't want us to hear! The only way to find the freedom of true life is to let go and give God our complete trust.

We are saved only by grace through faith in Jesus Christ Ephesians 2:8; but a saving faith must be a faith in the complete Jesus, all He is and all He represents! He came as our Savior, the Lamb who was sacrificed for the forgiveness of our sin. But He also came as the Son of God, our Sovereign Lord. A saving faith cannot pick and choose what portion of Jesus to accept; we either let go and give Him our complete trust or we show we have rejected Him as we cling to self-control.

The world is packed full of "trappings" which lure us and keep us from surrendering to Jesus as Lord. We are continually enticed to follow "The Road to Happiness" with promises of pleasure and power; but if we look closely, we will see nothing but a handful of worthless stones which keep us from true freedom.

We can no longer cling to the empty values of the world; we need to let go and present ourselves to God as a living sacrifice Romans 12:1. If we want to find the freedom of true life, we must have a faith which allows us to lose our life to the will of our Lord - we must be willing to let go of our shiny stones.

- steve troxel

....encouraged

Have you ever been in need of an encouraging word from God and gone to the book of Nahum looking for it? I didn't think so; neither have I. Well, surprise, surprise, there is certainly one there, and God led me to it this morning – Nahum 1:7, which reads, “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows them that trust in Him.”  Isn't that good? Well, it gets better when you dig into it a little. There are three things I want to share with you from this little obscure verse...

The Lord Is Good

“The Lord is Good” - period. Everything about God is good, including everything that is related to me - His thoughts about me, His plans for me, His actions toward me, His guidance in me, His blessings to me, His protection of me, His purposes fulfilled through me and His ordained circumstances that surround me at this very moment in my life. They may not look good, seem good, sound good or feel good – but because they are ordained of God, they ARE good. Colossians 3:3 says that “your life is hid with Christ in God”. Every detail of your life is contained in Him, including your present circumstances, trials, needs

When I first woke up this morning and looked at the circumstances facing me today, I did not immediately think of them as good, but when I thought about the fact that every path God has led me down over the past 43 years has brought me to where I am right now, I realized that where I am right now is not just okay, it is good. Why? How? Because, I arrived at where I am today (right in the midst of a BIG storm) by doing all I know to obey the will of God.

Are you in a storm today? Are you in a crisis? Are you facing some very adverse circumstances? Are you going through a severe trial? Well, take heart – it may not seem good, but as part of the “life that is hid with Christ in God", it IS good, if for no other reason than to demonstrate the second point I want to share with you.

The Lord is a Stronghold in the Day of Trouble

The words stronghold mean "a fortified place, a defense, a refuge". You may very well be in a very tough spot right now, but you are not helpless or hopeless – and – you are not alone. There IS a place for you to go to for comfort, help and assurance. “From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.” The word trouble means adversity, anguish, distress and tribulation. If you have today landed on one of those squares on the board, then you will certainly be encouraged by this third truth from this little verse.

The Lord Knows Them That Trust in Him

The word, "know", means "to understand as a familiar friend". Hebrews 4:15 assures us that, “we have not a high priest (Jesus) who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities.” Jesus not only knows about and understands your situation, but He even FEELS right along with you. Now, let’s look at the word "trust". Here, it means "to confide in, have hope in and to take refuge in". He knows them as a close friend who confide in Him, who hope in Him, and who run to Him to find that place of safety. 

Are you in trouble? If so, don't make the mistake of trying to figure it out or work it out on your own. That is a trick of the devil and will only lead to disappointment, frustration, fear and exhaustion. Oh, I know, as a “responsible” person you feel you must DO something. Well, you are right.

What you must DO is go to Jesus, confide in Him and take refuge in Him until the storm passes – and it will. No matter WHAT you are facing today, no matter WHAT your circumstances are, no matter WHAT your need is, you can lift your head in confidence and praise the Name of Our Great God! Why? Because THE LORD IS GOOD – and He is good to YOU!

- shad williams

.....servant

The night before Jesus was crucified, He was celebrating the Passover meal with His disciples. We traditionally call this the Last Supper. Jesus knew this would be the last time He would eat with His disciples; He knew in just one more day He would be hung on a cross to die.

Knowing He only had a few short hours remaining with this select group, Jesus used His time to leave a lasting impression of what it meant to truly follow Him.

Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under His power, and that He had come from God and was returning to God; so He got up from the meal, took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him John 13:3-5

Without using words, Jesus gave perhaps His greatest sermon. Jesus was absolutely secure in who He was and where He was going: "He had come from God and was returning to God." But He was not proud or arrogant in His security. He didn't use His position to force others to submit or demand they satisfy His needs; instead, His secure position allowed Him to be completely humble and serve His disciples by washing their feet.

Our Heavenly Father desires for us to have this same level of security in Him. He wants us to KNOW we are His children and where we will spend eternity. Jesus came to set us free, and we are to walk in this secure freedom. But rather than using our freedom to arrogantly strut according to our own desires, a secure freedom should give us the necessary confidence to humbly serve without being offended; "do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love" Galatians 5:13.

Being a follower of Jesus Christ means, first and foremost, that we love the Lord with ALL our heart, soul, mind and strength Mark 12:30. But next, it means we are to love, serve, and "submit to one another out of reverence for Christ" Ephesians 5:21. Knowing where we will spend eternity, and keeping our eyes set on this eternal perspective, allows us to focus more on the needs and concerns of others Philippians 2:3-4. It allows us to use our gifts for their intended purpose; "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others" 1 Peter 4:10. My own earthly needs become few when I have a clear picture of my eternal home.

Let's learn to live as Jesus lived: in fellowship with our Heavenly Father, with absolute assurance of who we are in Christ, with confidence of our eternal destiny, and with the complete abandoned humility of a free and secure servant.

- steve troxel

.....follow

The subject of God's will is often one of great concern to growing Christians. Those who have accepted the forgiving grace of Jesus now have a desire to live a life which brings Him glory and honor, much of God's will is found directly in His Word. 

It's God's will that we live a pure and holy life 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7, and obey His commands John 15:10. It's God's will that we love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength Mark 12:30, that we remain in Him and bear much fruit John 15:1-8, that we forgive others Matthew 6:14-15, love others 1 John 4:7, and share the message of Jesus with others Matthew 28:19-20. It's also God's will to "be joyful always; pray continuously; {and} give thanks in all circumstances" 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

A good sampling of what is referred to as God's "general" will - His will for all His children as we are "conformed to the likeness of His Son" Romans 8:29. God's general will involves a lifetime of worship and abiding in His presence. We need to pray for guidance and strength in following His will as revealed in His Word.

God may also direct us in very specific ways. He may do this slowly through circumstances or people, or by way of a direct, clear, and persistent call.  There are vast portions of God's will which are already revealed in His Word. We need to develop the discipline of reading and studying His Word - studying His will - and then follow what He has already commanded.

.....worry

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus Philippians 4:6-7

What do you worry about? Do you dwell on the unforeseen? Do you worry about imaginary events that never happen? Do you worry over people or matters over which you have no control? Do you worry when you have nothing to worry about?

Which do you spend more time doing, worrying or praying? The Bible tells us, don't worry about anything. . . but pray about everything!

The next time that you find yourself a worried mess, get alone with God. Begin by praising Him for who He is and then unload your heart. God will not be surprised by what you tell Him, He already knows all about it! But, after you've made your requests known to Him, don't miss out on expressing your appreciation to Him. Thank Him for all He's done for you. . . and all that He will do for you. . . "And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." 

What an incredible promise: God's peace will stand guard over your heart and mind! Notice that it doesn't say that your problems will go away, but, that you will experience a peace, a quiet confidence, regardless of what is going on around you. I don't know about you, but I find it's a great trade-off, I get rid of worry and in return receive peace from God. Which will you choose?

- marji kruger

...watching

A family was rushing to get to the movies. The parents told the children they had to leave "right now" at which point their teenage daughter headed for the bathroom to apply makeup.  Her father yelled for her to get in the car immediately, and headed to the garage grumbling.

On the way to the theater, the father glanced in the rearview mirror and saw his daughter applying lipstick and blush, which produced the predictable lecture. "Look at your mom," he said.  "She didn't put on any makeup just to go sit in a dark movie theater."

The daughter's response was, "Yeah, but Mom doesn't need makeup."

The mother's heart was swelling with the compliment, and just as she turned back to thank this sweet, wonderful daughter, her daughter continued, "Nobody looks at her."

I'm sure there have been times when your choice of clothing or the way you got yourself ready in the morning was determined by whether anybody would see you or not.  If you're just going to be around the house where no one can see you, you may dress one way.  If you're planning to be out in public, you'll likely dress another way.

Sometimes, though, we make the mistake of determining our actions in the same way.  If we think someone is watching, we're careful to do what's right.  But if we think no one is paying attention, we tend not to be quite as careful.  We think, "Nobody's looking at me anyway!"

The truth is, though, you constantly being watched - and not just by God! If you have children, you can be sure they see and hear everything you say and do!  When you're in line at the grocery store, others are watching.  When you work in your office, others are watching.  When you go out to eat at a restaurant, others are watching.  When you go to the Post Office, others are watching.

That shouldn't make us nervous or bothered.  Rather, it reminds us that everywhere we go, we have an opportunity to live in a way that honors and glorifies God!  Always be conscious of that opportunity.

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16.

Somebody's watching!

- david langerfed

.....name

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold Proverbs 22:1

There are two days in our lives when our name is prominent: the day we receive our name at birth, and the day our name appears in the obituary column. What happens between those two determines whether our name is a lovely ointment ... or a foul stench.

The late Bill Bright, founder and president of Campus Crusade for Christ, International, told about growing up in Oklahoma in the 1920s and '30s watching his father and grandfather conduct business affairs with other men. It was all done on a handshake (which is almost unheard of today) because of his grandfather's reputation in the area. He didn't realize exactly how respected his grandfather's name and word really were until years later.

In 1948, Bill was driving from Californian to Oklahoma to marry his sweetheart, Vonette Zachary. As he passed through Okmulgee, Oklahoma, where his grandfather had lived for many years, he remembered that he had forgotten to purchase gifts for several members of the wedding party. Stopping at a jewelry store, he asked if he could make a purchase with an out-of-state check and was told no, that it was against store policy.

As he turned to leave, the owner asked him, "Do you know anyone in Okmulgee?" thinking someone might be able to vouch for his honesty. "No, I don't," Bill replied. "My grandfather used to live here, but he died a few years ago." "Who was your grandfather?" the store owner asked. "Sam Bright."

"Are you Sam Bright's grandson?" the store owner asked, his face lighting up as he approached Bill. "Why, Sam Bright was the most honorable man I have ever known! If you're anything like your grandfather, I'll sell you anything in the store - and I'll gladly take your check."

A Good Name - Even though you may not have much in the way of material possessions, a good name is one of those wonderful gifts you can pass on to your children.

- david jeremiah

.....lift

Christ is the solid Rock upon which we have been set. He alone is our stable source of direction and strength. We will need to live this truth again and again as we continue to answer the call to follow.

When Jesus called Peter and Andrew to "Come, follow Me" Matthew 4:19, He was calling them to become His disciples. But Jesus placed strong conditions on a disciple; "Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple" Luke 14:27.

The call to be a disciple is not simply a call to live a good moral life. It's a call to crucify everything of our self that hinders our relationship with God. We must hold loosely to everything but God. The life of a disciple should clearly demonstrate a commitment to Christ by producing fruit for His Kingdom; "This is to My Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourself to be My disciple" John 15:8. A disciple should flow with pure love; "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another" John 13:35. And a disciple maintains a commitment to all Jesus taught; "If you hold to My teachings, you are really My disciples" John 8:31.

We are called to glorify God by drawing very near to Jesus and loving Him with all our heart; but in our own strength, we have no ability to draw near - no ability to be His disciple.

But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself John 12:32 When Jesus was "lifted up" on the cross and died for our sin, He provided the way back to the Father - the way to become His disciple. He drew us to Himself so we could be forgiven and stand in the presence of God. Likewise, the only way to draw near and follow today is to lift Him up to His rightful throne over our life and give Him our pure praise and absolute worship.

If we fail to lift up Christ, our efforts to carry our cross become nothing more than a list of restrictive rules; we will have no ability to produce Kingdom fruit, and our love for others will be selfish and artificial. Without a focus on Christ, our walk will become an impossible burden without direction. Let's "make disciples" by first being His devoted disciple. And let's be His disciple by ensuring that in ALL we do, we love Him and continually lift Him up.

- adapted steve troxel

.....stand

God gives us an eternal hope by lifting us up, washing us clean, and setting our feet upon a new and solid path. When we are in the slimy and muddy pit, we are vulnerable to attack; it's difficult to move and we easily lose our balance. We tend to live in fear, not knowing who to trust or which way to turn. But as Christ lifts us up, we become "a new creation" 2 Corinthians 5:17. Life on solid ground should not be the same as life in the pit! That's worth repeating - Life should NOT be the same!!

As the Spirit of God transforms us, He also provides everything we need to accomplish God's work and live a victorious life; "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness" 2 Peter 1:3. Knowing that our Heavenly Father has created us anew and gifted us with ALL we ever need, we must now be resolved to stand firm.

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain 1 Corinthians 15:58

We must firmly stand; while realizing that we cannot stand in our own strength. The ground is solid only because of Christ. He IS the rock upon which we have been set - the Rock of our Salvation. Whenever we feel unworthy or unable to follow - whenever we feel we can no longer stand - we have surely begun to look to our own strength rather than God; "Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ" 2 Corinthians 1:21. He gives us the strength.

We have trusted Him to lift us out of the pit, and now that we are His child, we must continue to trust Him to strengthen us and be the stable Rock of our life. "For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!" Romans 5:10.

The solid Rock is no place to tremble, no place to fear. He will remain solid for all eternity, and as we stand on Him, He will accomplish through us what we are unable to do in our own strength. He is our new life, our strength, our identity, and all our self-worth. He is our comfort when we grieve, and He is our guiding light when we have lost our way. Let's honor our Heavenly Father as we continue to stand. Let's bring Him glory as we resolve to stand firm on the Rock!

.....heart

In the book of Malachi, God called the people of Israel back to the law He established 800 years earlier with Moses. God spoke of the necessity of a pure sacrifice Malachi 1:7-8, and the need for the priests to speak a message of truth Malachi 2:7-8. He also addressed the issue of giving back a portion of our resources - a portion referred to as the tithe.

Will a man rob God? Yet you rob Me. But you ask, 'How do we rob You?' In tithes and offerings. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house Malachi 3:8, 10

The principle of an offering began with Cain and Abel Genesis 4:3-4. Abraham then demonstrated the concept of the tithe when he gave Melchizedek "a tenth of everything" Genesis 14:20. But systematic tithing was not established until God gave the law to Moses, Leviticus 27:30-33.

In the time of Malachi, God not only called for a return to the discipline of tithing, He also directly linked tithing to blessings and gave the ultimate challenge: "Test Me in this and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of Heaven" Malachi 3:10. God certainly never "owes" us because of anything we do, but His Word contains a consistent call to obedience, and true obedience always results in true blessing.

When Jesus died on the cross, He fulfilled the law for all who believe. And though the legalistic letter of the law has passed away, the intent of the law (which is the heart of God) remains for all time; "These {laws} are a shadow of the things to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ" Colossians 2:17.

The intent of all the law is that God dearly loves us and is Lord over ALL areas of our life. The law teaches this truth and shows us how far short we fall of His standard. The purpose of the law was much more than teaching us to comply with a written code. The shadow contained in the written law says "Thou shalt not kill," but the reality in Christ says to not even have hatred in our heart, Matthew 5:21-22 .

When we debate about the "rules" of how much and where to give, we are focused on the shadow and miss the reality of Christ - He loves us and is Lord of ALL! As we focus our eyes on Christ, we will give. We will give generously, "not reluctantly or under compulsion" 2 Corinthians 9:7. 

We will gladly give of our time, talents, and finances to whatever need He directs; and as we give and join in His work, we will better understand His true blessings. When He is truly Lord of all, we will not simply give according to a formula dictated by the law, we will live under His grace and give according to the law's intent. 

When He is Lord, we will cease to rob God and will joyfully give our lives as we give from the heart.

- adapted from steve troxel

.....hug

In the fall of the year, Linda, a young woman, was traveling alone in the rutted and rugged highway from Alberta, Canada, to the Yukon. Linda didn't realize that you don't travel to Whitehorse alone in a rundown little Honda Civic.  So, she set off where only four-wheel-drives and cars with chains normally venture. 

The first evening she found a room in the mountains near the summit and asked for a 5 o'clock wake-up call, so she could get an early start.  She couldn't understand why the clerk looked surprised at the request, but when she awoke to an early morning fog shrouding the mountain tops, she understood. 

Not wanting to look foolish, she got up and went to breakfast.  Two truckers invited Linda to join them, and since the place was so small, she felt obliged.  "Where are you headed?" one of the truckers asked. "Whitehorse," she answered.  

"In that little Civic?" one of them said.  "No way!  This pass is way too dangerous in weather like this."  "Well, I'm determined to try," was Linda's gutsy, if not very informed, response. "Then I guess we're just going to have to hug you," the trucker suggested. Linda drew back.  "There's no way I'm going to let you touch me!" she said angrily.

"Not like that!" the truckers chuckled. "We'll put one truck in front of you and one in the rear.  That way, we'll get you through the mountains safely." 

Throughout that entire foggy morning, Linda followed the two red dots - the tail lights of the rig in front of her.  She had the reassurance of another big rig - right behind her - as they slowly made their way safely up, and through, the mountains. She realized that she could never have traveled this road on her own. She needed the two truckers to "hug" her.

There are times we are caught in the fog of our own dangerous passage through life.  During those times, we, too, need to be "hugged"... Hugged by fellow Christians who know the way and can safely lead ahead of us, and with other Christians behind us to guard the way, gently encouraging us along.

With those fellow Christians "hugging" us - both in the front leading us and also behind us guarding us - we too, can pass safely through the mountains and passes of life.

"Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2 

- charles swindle

.....solid

As we begin to view our life more from God's perspective - an eternal perspective - our heavy burdens can seem "Light and Momentary” and we can find purpose even in our "Times of Waiting." This view of life cannot be obtained apart from belief in Jesus Christ. The life changing benefit of God's perspective can only be found through a clear understanding of the gospel message. 

This gospel changes everything!

The gospel message is one of hope which says, God loves us and has an ETERNAL plan for our life through faith in His Son Jesus. Without the hope of the gospel, we would continue to live a life of emptiness and an eternity separated from God. Even if we stumbled onto temporary fulfillment - even if our burden was made light - without the gospel our life would end without hope.

But as we place our trust in Jesus, He lifts us up, gives our life new meaning, and transforms us into a new creation through the power of His Spirit.

I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand Psalm 40:1-2

These words, written by King David over one thousand years before the death and resurrection of Jesus yet, they provide an excellent illustration of the hope found in the message of Salvation.

In our sinful nature, we all "have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way" Isaiah 53:6. Our nature is to follow our own sinful desires and walk down paths which cause us to "fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23. Each of us have been firmly embedded in the mire of sin and none of us can climb out of the slimy pit with our own strength; we have no ability to build eternal hope!

But praise God that before the creation of the world He loved us and had a plan to bring us back to Himself, a plan to rescue us; "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:8. The death and resurrection of Jesus allows us victory over sin and creates a way out of the mud; "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" Romans 10:9.

If we desire to be clean and live with hope and a new view of life, we must call out to Jesus and believe He is who He claimed to be - our Savior and Lord! If we will trust Him and cry out in faith, He has promised to hear our cry and lift us up. He will pour His cleansing love upon us and fill us with purpose! 

He will set our feet for all eternity upon Himself and we will forever stand on solid ground.