Life isn't always pleasant

Proverbs 3:5-6 (Message Bible)
Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. [6] Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track.

It's easy to serve God when things make sense and life is problem-free. You know, when the bank account is full, and you've just got a raise, and life is grand. The kids are perfect, the eggs are cooked just right, everyone is smiling, and the birds sing you a lullaby. Why, it's a picture-perfect day.

....we interrupt this daydream with this breaking news-flash...

LIFE ISN'T ALWAYS PLEASANT!

There are going to be bad days full of bad news! And it's in these times when God just doesn't make sense which is why you need to re-read Proverbs 3:5-6...

Proverbs 3:5-6 (Message Bible)
Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. [6] Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track.

What do you do when life throws you a curve ball?

1) Trust God from the bottom of your heart!

2) Don't try to figure out everything on your own!

3) Listen for God's voice in everything you do and everywhere you go!

4) Remember God is the One who will keep you on track!

God really doesn't make sense - in human terms anyway; but serving Him faithfully makes saints out of you and me.

Isaiah 55:8-9 (King James Version)
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. [9] For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

God doesn't think like you and me - He thinks on a much higher level. If you've ever ascended to a high peak, or driven through a mountainous region, or flown in an airplane, you can get somewhat of an idea of how small things appear when you're above them.

The point is this - God is not limited like you and I. He is the beginning AND the ending! He is the first AND the last! In fact, He declares the end FROM the beginning! He is the author AND finisher of our faith! While you only see through your limited lens, God sees everything, including the way it's all going to end! This is why trusting God is vital to your success as a saint of God!

God has never failed! God never will fail! It's not possible for God to fail! Listen to how David declared his trust in Almighty God...

Psalm 37:23-25 (King James Version)
The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. [24] Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. [25] I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

God orders the steps of the righteous - this means trusting the outcome to God, even if you don't like where He's leading you. God knows best. Trust Him! The righteous have never been forsaken and never had to beg for bread!

For those who are reading this and facing tragedy, difficulty, or are just plain discouraged right now - take heart! God knows where you are and knows your name. Just like Job, you can declare...

Job 23:8-10 (English Standard Version)
Behold, I go forward, but he is not there, and backward, but I do not perceive him; [9] on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him; he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him. [10] But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.

Refer to the Instructions...

Yesterday, May 23rd, I finished my daughter's clubhouse/swing set. She is excited beyond words and has already logged many hours of playtime in it. In fact, she would probably sleep in it if I would let her. Her laughter and appreciation of it is reward enough for me.

But of course, being a preacher, I got a little nugget out of the whole process. What do you expect? I am preacher! We get little nuggets from almost everything! :-)

When I opened the first box, I did what many men do not do: I read through the instruction manual. I wanted to ensure that I had all the necessary tools and hardware to start the project and complete it.

There were 111 steps necessary to complete this project. WOW! At first, I felt overwhelmed; but then I remembered the Chinese proverb - the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. So, I started on step one. Within a few minutes, it was complete. I was well on my way to finishing - just 110 steps and about 30 hours to go. That day, I completed eleven steps.

After a week of severe back pain, and inclement weather, I was able this week to devote the time necessary to finishing it. I placed the six posts on the lawn where the clubhouse would stand and begin the work. Step twelve, then thirteen, and so on. By the end of the day, I had stopped on step forty-five. It was coming together in such a way now that you could tell where certain things would be.

BUT... I kept referring to the manual for complete instructions.

Finally, after many hours of reading, working, lugging, tugging, tightening, and just plain hard work, the job was done. It is sturdy. It is fun. It is finished.

BUT... I could not have done it without the instruction manual. It was my guide. It answered the questions for me. It gave me direction.

We too have an instruction manual, but the question is begged - how often do we refer to it? When you're overwhelmed with life, do you go to the manual? When your child rebels, do you refer to the manual? When you trip and fall, do you refer to the manual? Of course, I'm not talking about just any book, but rather the BIBLE: God's Holy Word!

After completing the project, I was reading in the Word of God and God led me to read Joshua chapter 9 and the following verse stood out to me:

Joshua 9:14 (ESV)
So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the Lord.

This verse jumped off the page at me! This chapter dealt with the deception of those from Gilgal who did not want to be utterly destroyed by Joshua and the Hebrews. After studying this verse further, I found another similar passage in Isaiah...

Isaiah 30:1-2 (KJV)
Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin: [2] That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!

In Isaiah, not only do they not counsel with the Lord, but they also "add sin to sin" and "walk down into Egypt." Egypt is a type of the world in Scripture and when you do not refer to the instruction manual - the Bible - you will surely wind up going into Egypt. Ryrie's Study Bible comments that the children of Israel here were making a covenant with Pharaoh and Egypt, even though Egypt was dying out as a "super-power." The enemy and his power is diminishing - don't make a covenant with him!

To find the positive side of this and to end this blog on a postive note, we must go to king David, for he enquired often of the Lord...

1 Samuel 23:2 (KJV)
Therefore David enquired of the Lord...

1 Samuel 23:4 (KJV)
Then David enquired of the Lord yet again. And the Lord answered him...

2 Samuel 2:1 (KJV)
And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the Lord...

2 Samuel 5:19 (KJV)
And David enquired of the Lord, saying...

2 Samuel 5:23 (KJV)
And when David enquired of the Lord...

2 Samuel 21:1 (KJV)
...and David enquired of the Lord. And the Lord answered...

Refer to the instructions - the Bible - God will never lead you astray!

When you refer to the Bible, you will not only start right, but you will finish right!

And you and your children will have joy, just like my daughter has joy on the completed project!

Being Effective

Everyone wants to be effective.

Parents want to be effective in raising their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Spouses want to be effective in their marriages.

Families strive for effectiveness in their homes.

Employees seek to be effective on their job.

The list could go on and on... Today, however, I want to present to you three key ways that we can be effective for God.

1) Reach UP to God.

Your relationship with God MUST be the most important one. It must trump all others.

The first four commandments are "God-ward" indicating the importance of this relationship.

In fact, in order to reach out and reach in, you must first reach up; otherwise, you will not be effective!

Joel 2:12-13 (ESV)
Yet even now, declares the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; [13] and rend your hearts and not your garments. Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.

Before you get to the outpouring of God's Spirit in Joel 2:28, you have to first "return" to God.

Note also the word usage in verse 13 - rend your hearts and not your garments. What God is saying is that when we reach up to Him, He doesn't want our religious service. Instead, He wants a sincere relationship!

2) Reach IN to the Church.

The next step to being effective is to reach in to the Church.

No one is an island! I need you and you need me!

No one of us is as effective as all of us!

Together is truly better and unity is one of the precedents to a great harvest!

Joel 2:15-16 (ESV)
Blow the trumpet in Zion; consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly; [16] gather the people. Consecrate the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber.

The call is for the whole church to reach inward through prayer and fasting to strengthen the body.

We are all one body - the Body of Christ!

Yes, we are different members with varying functions; however, what part of your physical body can you do without and still be considered whole?

I need you - you need me - and together WE will serve the Lord!

3) Reach OUT to your community.

The third step to being effective is reaching out!

Sharing the gospel is the greatest antidote to dealing with your own problems.

Whenever I find myself discouraged about life, I will find someone to testify to about God's miracle of salvation and before I know it, I'm no longer discouraged!

Learn to reach out to others. Don't keep His love all to yourself. He gave it to you for the purpose of sharing it with others!

Micah 4:1-2 (ESV)
It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and it shall be lifted up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it, [2] and many nations shall come, and say: Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

Reach out!

Tell somebody about Jesus today.

Declare what He has done for you.

You don't have to be a Bible scholar in order to be a witness. Just share how Jesus saved you, healed you, delivered you, and set your feet on the ROCK to stay!

You can be effective if you learn to reach UP, reach IN, and reach OUT.

Try it today - you might like it.

I'll see you in the harvest fields...