Beep, Beep, Beep

This morning my awakening was the closing scene of a dream.  I don't remember all of the assorted details of the dream; I was lying down to rest after a day of rigorous activity which included grand-kids, golf balls, balloons, a fishing pole and a yard rake.  (I know, don't ask...I'll try to lay off the Chinese food for a while!)  As quickly as I laid my head on the pillow, I heard the distinctive beep, beep, beep of a dump truck in reverse.  The beep was my alarm clock, the dump truck was my granddaughter using the bed for a trampoline. Suddenly I found myself having some morning fun time with my 3-year old princess.


Often our daily lives appear to be just as garbled.  There seems to be little meaning in what we do and fewer rewards for our accomplishments.  We try to rest and put those days behind us only to be awaken by the call and confusion of yet another day. But there is a solution.  While we are not really able to control our dreams, we can control much of what comes into our mind when we are awake.  Colossians 3:2 instructs us to think on the things which are above, those Heavenly things of God, and not on the things of earth, the fears, frustrations and agonies of everyday life. And while we cannot always control our circumstances, we can control how we respond to them.  


As we start our new day, let's make a conscious effort to respond positively to the unforeseen, yet unalterable situations of life.  Proceed with confidence through your day, knowing that God is marking your pathway and guiding your footsteps.  And when you lay down tonight may you rest in the comforting knowledge of His presence...but watch out for dump trucks, and lay off the Chinese food!!

Defining Worship

John 4:24  God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.

Grant Ethridge of Hampton, Virginia* tells of an old deacon who once prayed, "Lord, please let something happen today that is not printed in the bulletin."  It is the desire of God that we worship Him with our inner most self.  Rituals, formality and traditions are all good as they point us to the unchanging nature of God.  However, I believe it is in the heart of God that we allow our spirits to interact with His during this process we call church.

In comments on John 4:24, Ethridge states that, "Some churches have enthusiasm without truth."  It is important that our worship offers our praise and adoration of God and not just a display of someone else's  talents.  The congregation is looking for a Word from Heaven, not Hollywood.  When we worship with our spirits touching God's Spirit, the result will be an emotional acknowledgment of His majesty.  Otherwise we will have an hour of frustrated exercise that leaves souls tired, yet still hungry.

As we step into our pulpits or settle into our pews next Sunday, let's make sure we are truly seeking an encounter with God.  He knows our needs, wants and desires...and when we have prepared ourselves to receive, He is more than willing to give.  If you are a preacher, preach the Word.  If you are a hearer, receive the Word.  Then, when the "worship service" is over, take what you have preached and what you have heard and worship Him in spirit, truth and deed every day

*Devotional Prayer Book, page 141.  C. 2009 Thomas Nelson, Inc. ISBN-13: 9778-1-4041-1394-7

A New Day

Have you ever worked hard and long to prepare for a big event?  Then the day came, the activity took place, excitement filled the air, hearts were stirred, people were motivated......and then it was over.  The music died, the crowd drifted away, the lights were dimmed, and nothing was left but the clean-up.  The event had been a tremendous success, people seemed excited and happy, there were plenty of smiles, hugs and handshakes...everything was great!  That is until the reality of tomorrow sets in.  Life goes on even when the party's over.  With the rising sun will come another day filled with a totally different activity.  It's called "work."

It is truly amazing how God weaves into our daily lives those moments of excitement and even mirth. Yet surrounding each festive occasion are the days of toil and responsibility left to us by Adam, our earthly father.  And so we must live our lives groping for the few opportunities to forget our troubles and be happy, or we can choose to receive each day as a gift from God, remembering His Word in Psalm 118:24; "This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."

Hey, come on  -  SMILE!! Yeah, the party may be over...but His Light is still shining and a brand new day has begun. Enjoy it!

Entering God's Will

You know God is speaking to you, through His Word, during prayer, in a sermon or conversation with a friend,  but you just need that extra little convincing before you turn your thoughts into action.  And that is not always easy to do.  Sometimes when the voice of God is determined, we have to make the decision to listen and obey or hear it and retreat. Let's look at a few characters from the Scriptures to determine how they responded to the voice of God.

Noah  -  Built the ark, preached for 120 years with no converts except his family, and was ridiculed by the masses the whole time...but he and his family alone survived the great flood.

Abraham  -  Left the land of Ur, a place of comfort to him, to go to an unknown place, displaying total obedience to God.  He became the Father of the Jewish nation.

David  -  Fought Goliath, flirted with Bathsheba, murdered her husband, had his sin exposed and repented, and became a man after God's own heart.

Peter  -  Often opened mouth and inserted foot, denied Christ 3 times, yet preached on the day of Pentecost where 1000's received salvation.

Jesus - yes, Jesus.  In his flesh he cried out for God to remove the pain of death from the cross...but submitted to the will of God.

Sometimes we simply need to exit our will and desires so that God's will can take control of our lives.

Luke 22:42