Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Praise

The last few Psalms are all about praise.  I began to ask what is praise and how does one praise God.  Many times in church we associate praise with music.  While that is a component of praise, it is not praise in its totality.  Praise is so much more.  Praise is a lifestyle that expresses gratitude for what God has done.  And, so praise begins with a proper perspective of self.  Psalm 149:4 says that "the Lord delights in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation."  Praise, then, begins with humility.  I cannot express gratitude to someone if I think I deserve something or am owed something.  Thus, praise flows out of an attitude of gratitude.  

Attitudes are the governors of our lives.  And, Jesus said that he who is forgiven much loves much.  To say it another way, when we realize how much God has done for us, we can't help put to express gratitude which results in praise.  We would all do well to slow down even for five minutes today and take an inventory of all that God has done.  See if it results in praise.

Monday, June 29, 2009

Within Striking Distance

When we hear the word striking distance, we think maybe that the U.S. is within striking distance of North Korea with how things are now.  Or, we think the Dolphins are within striking distance of making the playoffs.  Webster defines it as "a distance from which something can be easily reached or attained."

Psalm 141:5 talks about us being within striking distance of godly  people.  It says, "Let the godly strike me!  It will be a kindness!  If they reprove me, it is soothing medicine.  Don't let me refuse it."  Let me unpack this in the context of Acts 2: 42-47.  

These verses show a group of people that lived within striking distance of one another. They had devotion to God's word and each other.  Out of this naturally flowed sharing with one another, having things in common, and meeting each other's needs.  And, because of living out the devotion to God's word in the devotion to each other, there were miraculous signs, wonders, and awe.  This then produced an attraction to those followers by those that were not followers and "the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."  And, to go full circle, the followers "ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people."  

We can't do life alone.  We can't do life from a distance if we want to live the abundant life (John 10:10) and grab hold of the life that is really life (1Tim. 6:19).  We need to be within striking distance of people, close intimate proximity in which we know the needs (and ours are known), we can pray for each other, meet the needs of each other, and do life together.  That's the way God intended it.  And, when we do this, we challenge, exhort, and encourage each other in community.  It's the only way it can happen.  Then, a challenge or encouragement will be "medicine" or "kindness."  

Who are you living within striking distance of?  Who are you doing life with in community -- an Acts 2:42 community?

Friday, June 26, 2009

Unity

Whenever I hear of unity, it is always that the church should have unity.  While that is completely accurate, I was reading today the following from Psalm 133 "how pleasant when brothers live in harmony."  And, later, it says that "harmony is as refreshing as the dew that falls from Mr. Hermon....and the Lord has pronounced his blessing" where there is harmony.  I got to thinking that I cannot recall a sermon on familial harmony -- husband, wife and kids -- with the most important being husband and wife.  How can a church have complete harmony if the families that make up the church do not have harmony?  But, for those of us that are Christ followers we should desire that harmony with our spouses and should seek it out.  I know that for me sometimes I gloss over family harmony and assume that it is there.  But, with all organisms, we should have "well-checks" to see where we are from a health perspective.  My desire is the have the Lord's blessing pronounced firstly on my family.  So, it's time for a well-check....

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

A Custom Reboot

I have a first generation Iphone.  I know, I am outdated.  In any event,  a few months ago I unlocked and jailbroke the Iphone.  And, yesterday, I downloaded the new operating system to the phone.  And, the operating system locked my phone.  It gives the phone a pattern that it must operate within.  It cannot operate outside of that pattern.  This means that the phone can only work on an approved carrier an only have apple apps.  Of course, I want it to operate in a new way -- a new pattern of rules -- that gives me freedom to use Tmobile and other company's apps.  

So, I feverishly spent about 3 hours searching for and downloading the programs I needed so I could change the pattern.  I had to do a custom reboot that required I delete some of the regular operating system so my phone could think in a new way.  It worked!  My phone now is free to work how I want it to.  

It got me to thinking about my walk with God.  He says, in Romans 12:2. "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

This world has its own operating system.  And, the pattern of this world can only be changed by a daily custom reboot -- the renewing of your mind.  

Psalm 119, has a lot to say about how we can achieve a custom reboot.  It says, "I told you my plans, and you answered.  Now, teach me your principles (26). "  We need to ask God to reveal his principles to us. Then, we need to commit to think about them.   "I will meditate on your priniciples continually (117)." And, "I meditate on your age-old laws (52)."  We need  to ask God to "give discernment to me (125)."  We need to treasure his word.  "Your law is my delight (174)." And,  "Your law is more valuable to me than millions in gold and silver (72)."  

I believe most of us say we want to know God and his will.  But, do we really treasure his law more than millions?  Do we delight in his law?  Do we search for hours until we have the tools for the custom reboot?  Only after we mediate on his word, ask for discernment, and value his word, will we be able to renew of minds.   

Monday, June 15, 2009

Charting a Course

My fishing buddies and I have been blessed the last five years with the opportunity to take adventures to the Bahamas and the Dry  Tortugas fishing.  It has been awesome.  Going out of Key Largo we set a course N NE to Bimini.  I use a GPS and plotter to chart our course or the path.  And, it makes a nice, neat blue line to follow.  All I ask is that whoever is piloting the boat to follow the line.  It's a lot more difficult than it sounds.  Waves act against you, the wind pushes you, and there are currents.  So, we are constantly looking that the GPS.  You could simply just point the boat in the direction that you want to go, but the problem with that is that a few degrees off when traveling 75 miles could make you miss the target.  The direction and, consequently, the path given are of upmost importance.  We all choose paths and they determine our destination. Emotions don't.  Intentions don't.  Trying harder doesn't.  You can't reap what you don't sow and you can't arrive at the destination if the direction is wrong.  

God gives us principles that direct our lives to the destination that we desire when aligned with him.  Sometimes, we don't see how we can get to the destination on the path he calls us to.  That's where faith comes in.  Sometimes we can get frustrated that those not of faith are on a "better" path.  Psalm 73 says "their present life is only a dream" and that they are on a "slippery path" that will send them "sliding over the cliff to destruction."  

There will be course corrections in our lives.  I believe that we have some choices in how severe some of them are.  For examples, we can choose to ignore an issue in our marriage or personal lives and let it grow larger.  Or, we can address it and make a minor course correction.  But, the further we go down the wrong path, the greater and more severe the course correction.  

My desire is that I make daily and weekly minor course corrections and to stay as close as possible to that blue line....  

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Signs, Signs, Everywhere Are Signs....

We all needs signs in our lives. They help us know what to do and where to go. We went to the Miami Museum of Science yesterday and there were signs guiding us on the path to take and where to turn. Signs do this for us. They also confirm that our belief is right in what we are doing. I was telling Steph the way we needed to go and when I saw the sign it confirmed for me that I was on the right path. God gives us signs -- signs to direct, guide, and confirm.

This week he gave me a sign of his love for me. I was on the phone with a friend discussing some things that could evoke -- and did -- some emotions for me (emotions of hurt or abandonment). While speaking, for some reason I looked left and up. And, in the clouds was a heart shaped hole in the clouds. I stopped and thanked God for the sign of confirmation -- affirmation -- that I was going in the right direction, on the right path. I cotniuned to look and within 5 seconds the heart was gone. I am convinced that God was speaking to me. I wonder how often we miss the signs that God is sending us because we just don't look.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Second Hand Knowledge

All of us have played telephone when we were little kids and learned how a message get messed up when it is passed along.  We also know how the impact of a statement, saying, message, or event is diluted if were were not there....if it is second hand knowledge.  At the same time, since we were little (especially boys since I am one and have one), we always want to see want we can do.  We want to stretch our limits....prove ourselves.  This is normally self imposed with lifting weights, running, sports (I even had a friend one time bet another one that he could last longer on a tread mill and would do it until the other one threw up -- and he offered a garbage can).  

As we mature in the faith, God gives us opportunities to show our mettle and to get first hand knowledge of who we are and who he is.  We call them trials.  And, I think Job sums it up for us in 42:5 "I had heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes."  There are many things that we have all heard about God, but he wants us to have first hand knowledge.  Not all require trials but some do.  Let's see what God wants us to see today with our own eyes.   I know that as I do I will never be the same.